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COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER 



A DRAMA 



FY 

WALTER WARREN ^Ds^K^A 




BOSTON 

ARENA PUBLISHING COMPANY 

COPLEY SQUARE 
1893 



In Exclt. 

Columbia. Univ. Ub. 



Copyright 1893 

by 

Arena Publishing Company 

All rights reserved 



ni-' 



t-. 



Arena Press. 



THE FOLLOWING CHARACTERS APPEAR ONLY 
IN THE FOLLOWING ACTS. 



In the First Act Only. 



James of Mallorca, 

Correo, 

Tailor, 

Grocer, 



In the Second Act Only. 



Fernandez, 
Talavera, 
St. Angel, 



Waiter, 
Felipa, 

Dona Correo, 
Woman. 



Zalora, 
Perez, 
Other Monk, 



Attendant. 
Only after the First, in the Second and later Acts. 

King Ferdinand, Arana, 

Gutierrez, Beatrix, 

Sanchez, Queen Isabella, 
Mendoza. 

Only after the Second and in later Acts. 

Escobar, Pintor, Roldan. 

Only in the Fifth Act. 



Velasquez, 
Gamez, 



Young Diego, 
Fernando, 



Indian. 



CHARACTERS. 



Columbus {Christopher) The Discoverer of America- 

Du'i^o {Columbus) (Brothers of Christopher Colum- 

Bartholomew {Columbus). \ bus. 

Foiiseca Archdeacon of Seville, Traveler in 

Portugal, afterwards Bishop of 
Badajos, Palentia and Burgos; 
then Patriarch of the Indies. 

Breviesca A Portuguese, friend of Fonseca, 

then later his Secretary, Treas- 
urer and Agent in Spain. 

A'///"- Fcrdi:iiiii.l Of Arragon, and, after Marriage, 

of Spain. 

Gutierrez Gentleman of the Spanish King's 

Bedchamber, and Otificer. 

Sanchez Officer, Inspector-General of Co- 
lumbus' Expedition. 

fames of Mallorca President of the Portuguese Naval 

School. 

Coj-reo Husband of Sister of Felipa, Co- 
lumbus' Wife. 

Fernandez '^'hysician and Scientist of Spain. 

Mendoza Archbishop of Toledo, Grand Car- 
dinal of Spain. 

Talavera TUshop of Avila, Confessor to the 

Queen. 

St. Angel Tieceiver of Ecclesiastical Rev- 
enues of Aragon. 

Zalora j ]:ishops of Spain. 

Arana \ 

Perez ^^ Monk, subsequently Prior of 

the Convent of La Rabida near 

Palos. 



vi CHA RA C TERS. 

^''f''"' I Sailors with Columbus, Settlers 

\!"y' ( in the New World. 

Roldaii ; 

Velasquez Subtreasurer in Ilispaniola. 

Gaviez A young Spanish nobleman, Set- 
tler in the New World. 

Yming Dies;o Eldest Son of Columbus. 

Fe7-tiaH(/i> Youngest son of Columbus. 

Tailor ) 

Grocer [in the First Act. 

Waiter ) 

Aloor ) 

Other Monk [in the Second Act. 

Attendant ) 

Indian In the Fifth Act. 

Felipa . . . ., Wife of Columbus, Mother of 

young Diego. 

Beatrix Companion of Columbus after 

Felipa's death, Mother of P'er- 
nando Columbus. 

Queen Isabella Of Castile and, after Marriage, of 

Spain. 

Dotia Correo Sister of Felipa, wife of Correo. 

Woman In the First Act. 

Maid In First and other Acts. 

Citizens, Officers, Soldiers, Courtiers, Sailors, Settlers, 
Women, etc. 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 



ARGUMENT. 

This drama is intended to be a study, psychologic 
rather than historic, though not unhistoric, of the 
character of Columbus, as manifested and developed 
in connection with his experiences before, during 
and after his discovery of America. The general 
outline of the plot is as follows : 

ACT FIRST: In Portugal. Scene First: A 
public square. Talk about the plans of Columbus 
and about himself. His entrance, his introduction 
to Felipa, and invitation to her house. Scene 
Second : Room in the house of Felipa. Reasons 
why Columbus hopes for success, the failure of his 
hopes, and his betrothal. Scene Third : Same 
room ten years later, rearranged as study of Colum- 
bus. Hounded by his creditors and wronged by 
the King, he loses Felipa by death and decides to 
leave Portugal. 

ACT SECOND: In Spain. Scene First: A 
Spanish camp at midnight. Columbus has enlisted 



2 COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 

as a soldier, is ridiculed for his schemes, has a talk 
with Beatrix, is present at an attempted assassina- 
tion of the Queen, and thus conies to meet the 
King^. Scene Second : The Council of Salamanca, 
called to confer with Columbus and discuss his 
projects. A summary of the popular objections 
urged against them. Scene Third : The exterior of 
the convent of La Rabida. To prevent Columbus 
from leaving her country, and to insure the sucess of 
his plans, the Queen pledges to him the Crown jewels 
of Castile. 

ACT THIRD : In TniJisif. Scene First : A street 
in Palos near its harbor. The difficulties and oppo- 
sition encountered by Columbus when preparing to 
sail, coming from his friends, as Beatrix, and from 
his enemies, who try even to destroy his boats. Scene 
Second : The deck of his ship at sea. The muti- 
neers, their talk when alone and when with Colum- 
bus, and his dealing with it. The midnight discovery 
of land, and the morning approach to it. 

ACT FOURTH: In Triumph. Scene First: 
Room in a house at Palos. Columbus welcomed 
by Beatrix, and urged to secure benefits from the 
Crown ; and his description to her and to Diego of his 
voyage and the new land. Scene Second : Recep- 
tion at the palace of Barcelona by the King, Queen 
and populace. Scene Third : Dining hall in the 
house of Cardinal Mendoza. The egg storv. 

ACT FIFTH: Li Chains. Scene First : Camp in 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 3 

Hispaniola. Opposition to Columbus on the part 
of noblemen and imported criminals. Placed in 
chains by his enemies. Scene Second : House in 
Seville. Death of Columbus. Scene Third : A 
final tableau with hymn, representing a vision of 
Columbus, when dying, of the progress and present 
condition of America. 



ACT FIRST. 

Scene First. — A street or square in Lisbon, Portu- 
gal. Backing at the right, a Wineshop, in front of 
ivhich are ttuo tables each ivith four chairs about it. 
Backing at the left, a convent zuall ending against a 
chapel., the door of which faces the audience. At the 
sides to right and left, are houses and trees. En- 
trances at the Right Center through the door of the 
wi)ieshop ; at the Left Center through a curtain hang- 
ing in the doorway of chapel ; and at the Right and 
Left Sides through streets. The curtain rising dis- 
closes FoNSECA and James of Mallorca seated at 
the table to the extreme Right. As the scene opens., 
the folloiving is chanted by an unseen choir in the 
chapel. 

O Life divine, thou art the spring 
Of all that germs and grows, 

The Light behind the suns that bring 
The harvests to their close. 

O Life divine, thou art the source, 

Of truth within the soul ; 
Thou art the guide through all the course 
That leads it to its goal. 

O Life divine, what soul succeeds 

In aught on earth but he 
Who moves as all desires and deeds 

Are lured and led by thee ! 



6 COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 

Enter — Left Side — Breviesca, and sits at the table 
to the Left. 
FoNSECA {to James). And you came here? 
James. To see Columbus. 

Fonseca. Him ? 

A crank, — what's worse, a creaking crank ! 
James. Without 

Some crank to creak of it, men might forget 
The wheels of thought were made to move them 
on. 
Fonseca. You start thought on the right track 
once, you'll find 
What moves it on is not what moves it off. 
They differ. 
Breviesca (/(? ///V/z^c'^). Yes, I'll wait till church is 
out ; 
We'll meet by accident. I'll home with her, 
And fish an invitation to, her house — • 
A lovely girl, Felipa ! — As I live — 

Enter — L^eft Side — Diego. 
That man I met when traveling in Spain ! 
He's always looming up. I wonder what 
Should bring him here to Lisbon ? 
Diego {to Breviesca). Wliy — this you? 
Breviesca. Good-day, Diego, 

Diego {looking totaard the chapel). Same to you — 
I see — 
At your devotions that you told me of — 
Front door ones, too ! — No wonder you deemed 
stranoe 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 7 

My studying for the jDriesthood ! 
Breviesca. But you said 

Tiiat you had turned from it. 
Diego. Oh yes ! Trutli is 

Tliat I'm in love too, — but I love myself. 
Breviesca. You're candid. 
Diego. Wish to be. That's why I changed. 

God started man ; man's deviltry the priest. 

For me, I like the thing God started best. 
Breviesca. Like others, eh } — yet like yourself. 
Diego. I do; 

That is, we two do — God and I. 
Breviesca. And now 

They style you, " Your Irreverence " ? 
Diego. I'm reverent. 

Breviesca. A different point of view ! 
Diego. That's all. Ay, ay ; 

Your soul-side down, 'tis one ; if up, the other. 
Fonseca {to Breviesca, rising and going toward kim 

with James). Breviesca, as I think. 
Breviesca (to Fonseca). Your thought is right. 
Fonseca. My name's Fonseca — Spaniard— met you 
once 

In Seville. You recall ? — 
Breviesca (rising). Archdeacon — yes. 

You honor me. 
Fonseca. You pleased me when we met. 

(Introducing James.) 

James of Mallorca, of the naval school. 



8 COLUMBUS THE DISCOl'ERER. 

Breviesca {introducing Diego). 

And Don Diego of ijiesitating). 

Diego. The world. 

Breviesca. Quite true ! 

Diego. A traveler, knowing little — would know 

more. 
James. If so, a man to my own heart. We thought 
You might have seen Columbus here .'' 

Enter — Left Center — Felipa, Correo and Dona 

Correo. 
Breviesca. No. {Then seeing Y^hiv a.) Ah! 
Diego {to James, as he looks at Felipa). 

A pretty point, too, for his exclamation. 
James {to Diego). Would you see more of it? 

{To Felipa.) Good-day. 

Felipa and Dona Correo. Good-day. 

Correo {to all). Good-day. 
James {introducing Diego). 

The Don Diego, like ourselves, 

A traveler {introducing the three to Diego). 
The Dona Correo, 

Felipa and Don Correo — You'll sit, not so? 

And, waiter — 

Enter — Right Center — Wa iter. 
Wine here. 
Waiter. Red or white ? 

James {to all). What say you ? 
Dona C. None for me. thanks. 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 

James {to Felipa). You? 

Felipa. Nor me. 

James {to the others). The gentlemen, at least ? 
CoRREO. I don't know but- 



James. I thought it. {to other gentioneii.) You 
too ? — White, not so ? Its hue 
Will fit this sunny air, and make us think 
We're drinking in the sunshine ! 

{Fays the waiter for the wine.) 

\Exit — Right Center — Waiter. 

{All seat themselves at the tables, from left to 
right, in this order ■■ first empty chair, 
then Diego, D. Correo, Correo, Felipa, 
James, Breviesca and Fonseca. James 
continues to Correo.) 

Did you see 
Columbus in the church ? 
Correo. Don't know him. 

James. No?— 

A sailor, drawing maps now for our school — 
Fonseca. Who should be kept to that and facts — 
not draw 
So much upon his fancy. 
James. You should hear 

His arguments. 
Fonseca. Say feel them — all their points 

Dipped deep in pagan poison. 
James. Oh, not all ! 



lO COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 

FoNSECA. Enough to make all deadly. 
James. I've no scent 

To follow up the trail of your dislike. 
FoNSECA. You know a priest should save the world 

from lies .'' 
James. I'm just as senseless. 

Enter — Right Center — Waiter with Jive glasses 
of wine, and sets them before the gentlemen. 
FoNSECA. Put it this way then : 

If what he says be right, the church is wrong. 
James. Oh, not so bad as that ! — has not found out. 
FoNSECA. If what he says be wrong, his dupes will 
drown, {to Correo.) 
Not so ? 
Correo. Beg pardon. 'Tis the first time yet 

I've heard of him. 
FoNSECA. You'll do it soon enough. 

The surest proof we men are not all fools, 
Is in the way we brute them when we find them. 
Diego. Ay, and the surest proof we're not all 
brutes, 

Exit— Right Center — Waiter. 
Is in the way our thinkers make us mind them. 
James. So, you're his friend, eh } 
Diego. Yes. 

Correo. Have known him long ? — 

Can tell us of him ? 
Diego. He's a Genoese. 

A mathematician, studied at Pavia. 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVEKER. n 

Since then, till now, for more than twenty years, 
A sailor and a soldier — in the scrubs 
At Naples, Tunis, famous for his fights 
Against the infidel — last year, the man 
Who clampt his smaller bark against a huge 
Venetian galley, and when both took fire, 
Forced to the waters, holding but an oar, 
Swam in to Lisbon ; and that oar of his. 
All that he brought here, may yet prove to be 
The scepter-symbol of the mightiest sway 
Your sovereign ever dreamed of. 

CoRREO. Ah ! — How so ? 

Felipa. Yes, yes ! 

Diego. His plan is now to sail around 

The world ; and in the trail that's left behind 
Loop all to Portugal. 

Felipa. Around the world .■' 

James. Oh, you should hear him talk ! 

FoNSECA. No, no, should not — - 

A mad dog to be muzzled ! 

Diego {to Felipa). You should not — • 

Unless you wish to think and feel, and thrill 
To feel, that there's a larger world than this. 

Breviesca. Li one's imagination. 

Diego. Be it so. 

Imagination is the soul of thought. 

Breviesca. Well, take the soul, but we will keep to 
sense. 
(Fonseca nods at him approvingly.) 



12 COLUMBCS THE DISCOVERER. 

Diego. There's many a joke had better not be 
cracked. 

The kernel's rot. 
Breviesca. You're free, sir, with your tongue. 

FoNSECA. Yes, too free for a stranger. 
James. Come, come, come. 

Enthusiasm needs a margin. 
FONSECA. But 

We may not need enthusiasm. 
James. What ? — 

And you say this t — a priest ? 
Breviesca. And, pray, why not? 

James. Why not ? — ^VVhy. friend, enthusiasm is 

The essence of religion 

Diego. Nothing worth 

With the uplift and the oversight. 

That wanting, 'tis a minor quantity 

Whose measure's not in worth but lack of it. 
{to James.) 

Not true .^ 
James. I think your training has been good. 

Diego. Yes, I have known Columbus. 
P'elipa {to CoRREo). How I wish 

That I had known him \ 
CoRREO. , You ? 

Felipa. Why, any man {pointing to Diego) 

To kindle fire like that 

CoRREO. Must have enough 

To keep a maiden warm and cosy, eh ? — 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 13 

Think you that follows always? I've known men 
Whose thought would flash like lightning, lighting 

up 
Half heaven besides the whole of earth ; and yet 
A whirlwind, did you trust to its caress, 
Would never lead you in a madder dance. 
Diego. I said I knew Columbus. One less mad 

Does not exist. 
FoNSECA. Oh, you've been bit by him ! 

James. Come, come, the church is wise, perhaps, to 
put 
Her break on wheels that else would whirl us 

down. 
But how about those wheels when mounting up ? 

Enter — Left Center — Columbus. 

Diego. He's coming now. He'll speak too for 
himself. 
(Rising and extending hand to Columbus. ) 
Good-day. 
Columbus (aside). You here, Diego ? 
Diego (^7j-/>/<? A; Columbus). Yes, but no one knows 

That I'm your brother. Better so, perhaps. 
Columbus. I see — can help me more. 
James {rising ivith the rest at the tables and mov- 
ing toward Columbus). Good-day. 
{^Introducing Columbus.) 

Our friends, 
The Dona Correo, — Felipa, Don 



14 COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 

Fonseca, Breviesca, Correo — 
Like you a sailor of experience. 
{All bow, as do also Fonseca and Breviesca.) 
Columbus {to ladies and Correo). It gives me joy 

to meet you. 
Correo. \A'e'll sit down .'' 

{All sit from left to right in this order : Columbus, 
Diego, Dona Correo, Correo, Felipa, 
James, Breviesca and Fonseca.) 
James. You come here every day, I hear? 
Columbus. Ahnost. 

James. You're making up for time you lost at sea 1 
Columbus. Yes, making up and mounting up. I like 

The uplift of the services. 
James {to Fonseca). There, there, 

Fonseca, one point scored against yourself ! 
Don't dull the blade that carves at your own feast. 

{to Columbus in explanation.) 
Oh, nothing serious ! — an argument 
About good churchmen, and enthusiasts. 
Columbus. I see — and me. Yet we've been told 
to preach 
The truth to all the world. 

{to Fonseca.) 

You think 'tis done ? 
Besides, Fm not a mere enthusiast. 
Breviesca. And yet would sail across the unknown 

sea. 
Columbus. I would. 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 15 

Breviesca. But that 



Columbus. J have good reasons for. 

FoNSECA. And where, pray, do you tind them .' 
Columbus. Everywhere — 

Without a single fact against them. 
Breviesca. Ha, 

Without a single fact ! 
Columbus. Well, name one, then. 

Breviesca. Enough for me, if one could cross the 
sea. 

We should have found it out, 
Columbus. So ? — How ? 

Diego {to Breviesca). No, no ; 

The world has had too many men like you. 
FoNSECA. And well for its own good ! If lands 
were there. 

The Lord would let us know it. 
Columbus. There are lands 

Men have not known. 
FoNSECA. And that would make you brave 

The blazing waves, and have your ship burned up ? 
Columbus. Ten years ago, the waters just beyond 

Cape Bojador were said to burn thus ; now 

Men sail them, far as Cape de Vere. 
Felipa. That's true. 

Columbus. And they return with branches, leaves 
and flowers 

That float from further west ; and you have read 

The ancients ? 



1 6 COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 

Breviesca. Yes, about Atlantis, yes ; 

But that was lost. — You'll find it easy enough. 

'Tis done by sinking. 
FoNSECA. Ha, ha, ha, well said ! 

Columbus. Oh, there are other tales ! Late travelers 
too. 

Like Marco Polo and John Mandeville 

FoNSECA. Now, pardon me ; but stick, man, to 
your text. 

It was of facts that you began to speak 

Columbus. And that which gives them value. 
Breviesca. Fancies, eh ? 

Columbus. Not fact-full only, but a mind that you 

Deem fanciful, is needed, would a man 

Put this and that together, and build up 

The only structure that can make his facts 

Worth knowing. 
James {rising). True as gospel that ! But now 

I must be going, {to Columbus.) 

You will come with me ? — 

Another map — we'll talk of it. Besides, 

Prince Henry will be there to-day. 
Breviesca {rising, io Columbus). Ay, ay ; 

He'll let you sail your ship up to the moon. 

As mad as you are ! 
Fonseca {rising, to Breviesca). Good ! I like you, 
man, 

You have some sense. 
CoRREO {aside, to James). The Prince believes in 
him ? 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 17 

James. If not in him, at least in enterprise. 
Columbus {to James). 'Tis just the meeting I had 

prayed to have. 
Too good in you to further it ! I'll come. 
CoRREO {to Columbus). We'll see you soon at our 

home too, I hope ? 
Breviesca {aside). At their home — what? Columbus 

and not me ? 
Columbus {to Correo). I'm very busy and have 

little time 

Felipa {to Columbus). But we have maps my 

father made ; and these 
You might find helpful. 
Columbus {to Felipa). Thank you. I will come. 

Good-day. 
Felipa a/id Dona Correo. Good-day. 

(Columbus and James exchange l)07vs with all.) 

Exeunt — Left — Columbus and James. 

Correo {to Felipa and Dona Correo). But we 
too must be going. 

Ihey bow to those that are left on stage. Ex- 
eiint — Eight — Correo, Felipa and Dotix 
Correo, f allowed by Fonseca. 

Diego {to Breviesca). Ah, Breviesca, even you'll 
admit 
Enthusiasm has been king to-day; — 
Within a single hour thrown wide apart 
2 



1 8 COLUMBUS THE DISCOl'KRKR. 

The palace bars, and parlor doors that guard 

The prettiest girl in Portugal. 
Breviesca. Oh, yes ! 

But wait you till the end comes. 
Diego. In the end, 

As the beginning, nothing thrives but spirit. 

I'll trust to its survival every time. 

A prince 

Breviesca. Is mortal. 

Diego. He's a lord of earth ; 

And on the earth he sometimes has the power 

To make a man immortal. 
Breviesca. Humph ! 'Tis strange 

You like that egotist — insufferable ! 
Diego. Why, no. 'Tis you that are insufferable — 

I mean to him. He dreams of destiny. 

His soul is in his work. 'Tis that that speaks, 

And like a sovereign. Soul is always sovereign. 
Breviesca. One's destiny, you think, is made by 

talk ? 
Diego. One's destiny was never yet fulfilled 

By one whose coward conscience dared not give 

Expression to the spirit that inspired it. 

Exeunt — JUj^ht — Breviesca luid Diego. 



COLUMBCS TIJE DISCOVERER. 



19 



Scene Second. — Parlor in tlir /muse of\ )( )na Cdrreo 
and Felii'A at Lisbon. Entrances at Kii:;ht Side 
and lA-ft Side. 

Enter — Rii;/it — Dona Correo ^7//c/Felipa /// oat-door 
dresses, as in last Act. 

Fklipa. I feared that we should not be back. 
You know- 
Columbus will be here to-day. They say 

He's sure now to succeed, 
D. CoRRKo. I have my doubts. 

Felipa. Prince Henry's promised him 

D. ("oRRKo. Prince Henry's ill. 

I'm sorry, though, that I can't stay with you. 

Give my excuses, please — ay, ay, and yours. — 

Breviesca's coming" too. 
Felipa. Oh, that man, humph ! 

D. CoRREo. W'e all accept his suit. 
Felipa. Except the one 

That should be suited 
D. Correo. Whom we all so trust, 

V\'e trust, too, in her wisdom. 

{Kissing Felipa.) 

With Columbus 

Be not too cordial. 
Felipa. Not too cordial ? 

D. Correo. No. 

Cordialities that make the backward friends 



2 COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 

But tempt the forward to presumption. Force, 
Prepared to clear its own approaches, flouts 
A welcome meant for weakness. 

Felipa. He's not forward. 

D. CoRREO. A civil man enough ! But then they 
say- 



Felipa. The one that everybody's bid can bind 

Is everybody's bondsman. 
D. CoRREO. But I know 

The neighbors 

Felipa. And I know myself. 'Tis wise 

To make it mistress of my choice, I think. 
D. CoRREO. Now, now, fair play ! Fair play in 
argument, 
Will catch our thoughts before it throws them 

back. 
They say he's flighty. 
Felipa. So are birds — and so 

Are — angels 

D. CoRREO. What ? 

Felipa. And every kind of life 

Above the common. 
D. Correo. Why, my girl ! 

One might suppose 

( Looking toward window at right.) 

But see ! He comes. I'll go. 
Be on your guard — and think. Good-bye. 
{Kissing her.) 
Exit — Left — Dona Correo. 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVER EK. 31 

Felipa {to hcrstif). And think ? — 

I need that caution ? — when this beaker all 

{Placing her hand on her heart?) 
Is brimming to its overtiovv ? — And think? — 
When every thought is radiant with his form 
Like surging sea-waves glancing back the sun ? — 
Enter — Right ^Columbus carrying a roll of maps. 
Good-day, Columbus. 

Columbus. It was good enough 

For me before you called it so. 

Felipa. \\'ith all 

Your disappointments .-^ Then 'tis true. Prince 
Henry 

Columbus. Has promised all I wish. I shall 
succeed. 

{They sit together on sofa, while Columbus hands her 
the maps.) 

Felipa. Thank God ! 

Columbus, Ay, ay ! Oh, I have sailed in nights, 
Dark nights, and thanked Him for a single star 
To guide me. Now I've two — the Prince and 
you. 

Felipa {unrolling the maps and looking at one'). 
You do me too much honor. 

Columbus. Could I ? Nay. 

A soul that summons all that does one"s best 
To do still better, sits upon a throne 
Than which none higher is conceivable. 

Felipa. I was not conscious 



2 2 COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 

Columbus. Nay, nor is a child 

Of aught in her of movement or of form. 

That, fitting sweet ideals of loveliness, 

Makes fancied grace and beauty visible. 
Y%\A'PK {looking doivn at thcmap). And yet, I had 

not thought my father's maps 

Columbus. Ay, they confirm twice over all my 
plan — 

Not they alone, but your directions with them. 
Felipa. Mine 1 {Sitting with one Jiaiui resting on 

the map.) 
Columbus. Yes, your fingers pointing out the course. 

It's all of it just there, beneath your hand. 

A sailor steers the way his compass points. 
Felipa. {Lookitig do7vn at her hand on the map). 

Is that your compass ? 
Columbus. It might compass me — 

I mean my soul. 
Felipa. That little hand ? Oh, what 

A little soul ! 
Columbus. Do souls have size ? One might 

Be universed in this ; yet not contained 
{Pointing to her hand.) 

In all the universe outside of it. 
Felipa. To put your soul thus in another's hand, — 

Would that be wise ? 
Columbus. Why not i" — the hand that serves 

The soul one loves may serve but selfishly, 

And yet serve best the one that trusts to it. 
Felipa. But should it fetter him ? — 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 23 

Columbus. 'Twould give him joy 

In every atom of his frame to feel 

Its fingers' throb and pressure. 
Felipa. Would not bound 

Avi'ay ? 
Columbus. Away and up, but always back again. 

Like grains of sand in earthquakes. 
Felipa. Foolish man ! 

Columbus. Wh)', only God is wholly wise ; and I, 

I'm but a man — so never quite so manly 

As when — why, say — made foolish. 
Felipa {rising, as docs also Columbus). 

Some one comes. 
Enter — Right — a Servant, bringing a note. 
Felipa. A note for me— from whom ? — 
{Opening and reading the note.) 

Exit — Right — Servant. 

Can this be true ? 
Bad news for us, Columbus, very bad ! — 
Prince Henry's dead. 
Columbus. Prince Henry } What? — No, no ! 

Felipa. It must be so. You see who sent it — look. 

{Handing the note to Columbus, who reads it. 1 
Columbus. Impossible ! Heaven cannot be malL 
cious. 
What ? build so high a structure for my hope. 
Then knock the prop from under t All, all gone ? 
Felipa. There maybe others. 
Columbus. May be .'' — There are none. 



24 COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 

Felipa. But you have me still. 

Columbus. Ah, that's it. We must 

Forget all this — at least for years and years. — 
Oh, I know what it means ! I've seen years like 
them. 

Felipa. Forget all this .'' 

Columbus. You do not understand. 

Prince Henry was my patron. Backed by him. 
Success was possible. I felt I trod 
An equal plane with other of your suitors ; 
But now I'm worse off than a beggar. 

Felipa. No ! 
You have your pencil — still can draw 

Columbus. Yet not 

The outlines I had hoped — of that new land. 
And you, its princess. No ; there looms a face 
With more care-lines upon its wrinkled brow 
Than e'er I blacked a map with. 

Felipa. There are ships 

That still need captains. 

Columbus. Could one see their sails 

Like arms, white-surpliced, praying heaven for 

wind. 
Yet ever turn his prow away from that 
Which he had vowed to heaven that he would seek ? 

Felipa. But you can wait — you're so strong ! — 
you can wait 

Columbus. I can — but you — no, no ; where hope 
still shines 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 25 

There's joy in pain and death is glorious ; 
But where no ray of hope is visible, 
To wait is full damnation. 

Felipa. You say this ? — 

I thought 

Columbus. Oh, I ! — yes, I can wait forever. 

The light's within me. But can you see through 
These forms that cloak it, worse than worst of rags, 
Discourtesy, suspicion and contempt 
Of those who know Columbus as the fool ? 

Felipa. But 

Columbus, No, deny it not. I know it, feel it. 
Your mother, sister, brother — yes, I grant 
They tolerate me ; but when patronless 
And penniless, 'twill be a different tale. 

Felipa. Nay, nay ; that cannot be! They'll feel 
with me 
How noble 'tis to be a man like you 

Columbus. A pauper and fanatic 

Felipa. No, a man 

Who, all alone, can stand with but one friend. 
His own brave soul, and trample underfoot 
A hissing world that, coiling like a snake. 
Would clutch him to its clod and hold him there. 

Columbus. Too much ! To-day you think it, but 
to-morrow — 

Next year — in ten years No, I have no right 

To put you to the test. No, let me go — 
Farewell. 



26 COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 

Felipa. Will you fare quite as well without me i 

Columbus. Felipa, nay, it cannot be. 

Felipa. You think 

A woman's heart, if tested through long years, 
With burdening love would break ?— 'tis kindlier 
To break it at the start "i 

Enter — Right — Brevi esca. 
Columbus {not observing Breviesca). Felipa, no — 
A faith like yours — my God, what shall I do ? 
I would not harm you, yet have done the harm. 
Breviesca {sarcastically to the tivo). Ah, so ! — I see 

that Fm too late — 
Felipa (aside, anxiously, to Columbus). Except 

For one thing. — Save me. 
Columbus (/^ Breviesca). We're betrothed. 

Exit, with sarcastic bow — Right — Breviesca, 
Exeunt — Left — Felipa and Columbus. 



Scene Third. — Working room i'l the house of CohVM- 
Bus. Afaps and charts, hanging on the walls, and 
lying on a large table at Back Center ; also books, 
instruments for navigation, and impletnents for meas- 
uring and drawiftg. Window at Right. En- 
trances at Right Side Rear and Left Side. 

Enter — Right — a Maid and a WouAf^, followed by 

other Women. 
Woman. Columbus home ? 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 27 

Maid. No. 

Woman. What's he doing now > 

Maid. Oh, just the same as ever ! 
Woman. Nothing, eh ? 

{To the other Women, who have remamed near the door.) 
Come in. (to Maid.) 

We thought that we should like to 

see 

{Handling charts and impleinents on the table.) 
Maid. You really shouldn't touch them. 
Woman. No } Why not ? 

Maid. He wouldn't like it. 

Woman. Oh, of course not ! but 

He's never violent, is he ? — 

{Pointing to a ehart.) 

What a blotch ! 
Maid. A chart, you know. 

Woman. A chart ? — A chart of what ? 

I never saw a chart like that — looks like 
A crazy quilt. And so he wastes his time 
On things like these ? — Felipa dying too ! 
No wonder ! — Think of it ! — Ten mortal years 
Of this, and no one knows what more. At night, 
I wouldn't dare to stay alone with him, 
Would you ? — say, would you ? 

Maid. Why ! I — no — he never 

Woman. Of course not. You would be afraid, of 
course. 
I had a cousin once who went insane. 



28 COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 

And all- his family had to play insane 

To keep him company. ''J'was royal sport 

Till, sure that he was royal and they slaves, 

He ordered off their heads. 
Maid. And then ? 

Woman. And then 

They left off playing, and made war in earnest ; 

And so dethroned him. They should do so here ; 

The sooner, too, the better ! Look at this : 
{Taking up a sharp instrument^) 

Not safe in hands like his ! 

{Knocking at the door at the RigJit.) 

Hark, hark ! What's that.' 

It can't be he ? Say, you can let us out 
{Starting for Lrft.) 

Tiie other door, not so ? 
Maid. No need of that ! 

'Tis no one but the tailor. 
Woman. Sure of it } 

{Crossing room and hwking out jvindow at Right.) 
Maid. Comes every day. 
Woman. What for ? 

Maid. To bid us think 

Of Adam's fall that made us civilized, 

Wear clothes, and bear the curse of paying for 

them. 

{Openitig door at Right.) 
Enter — Right — Tailor, to ivhom she speaks. 
He's out. 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 29 

Tailor. Oh. yes, I know. He's alway.s out — 

Out of his head at least. Were he but out 
My breeches, 'twould be better. — Left no word ? 

Maid. He bade me say that he expects the king 

Tailor. If all the kings that are expected came, 
There's none would have a kingdom. Ugh ! I'll 

strip 
And cage his bareness for a jail-show. Ifgh I 

Maid, But, really, he is honest. He expects 

Enter— Right Side — suddetily, the Grocer, 

Grocer. Tell him his expectations are too old. 
Fresh expectations, like fresh eggs, may hatch. 
Not so with stale ones, though, however white, 
\^'oM AN (tiirfting from window at Right, where she has 
bee7i looking out, and gazing at the Grocer). 
The grocer, eh ? 

{^Speaking to the other women ^ 

And all the family 
Are coming now — Columbus too, I saw them. 
There'll be a scene here. I prefer the back- 
ground. 
Exit — Ltft — Woman, y/;//c^7C'(Y/ by the other Women. 

Tailor {to Grocer). 

Let's club together, friend — I mean let fly 
Our blows at him together — down him sooner ! 

Grocer (to Maid, and holding a paper toward her). 
I can't fulfill this order. 



3° 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 



Maid, But you must. 

It's for his wife. 
Grocer. I can't afford, myself, 

To keep a wife. 
7"ailor. Still less when keeping his. 

Enter — Right — Dona Correo and Cokk'EO pushing 
F EL I PA /;/ a chair iipoii wheels. 

Maid {to Grocer). 

His wife is ill. You would not let her die .-• 
Grocer. Not I, but he ; and there are other 

shops 

Maid. He's tried them all. 

Grocer. Then let him try the jail. 

They'll feed him there, or sell him out. 

Dona Correo. What's that "i 

Grocer {pointing toward charts and implements on 

table). He ought to sell these things and pay 

us off. 

Dona Correo. Not paid you yet ? Oh, well, you 

may be right ! 
Felipa (to D. Correo). They may be right ^ 

Why, this would ruin him. 
Dona Correo (to Felipa). Not outside things that 
men can take away 
Bring ruin, but the things that stay within, 
Which would they could take ! 

{To Grocer and Tailor.) 

Look you — there he comes. 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOUERKR. 



31 



Enter — Right — Columbus. 
Columbus {to Grocer and Tailor). Well, gentle- 
men ? 
Tailor {fwlding his bill toward Columbus). I've 

brought your bill. 
Grocer, And I. 

Tailor. We say an honest man 

Columbus {jnotioning toward Felipa). But not, 
please, now. 
My wife is ill. 
Tailor {pointing toward the table). We say — your 
sister too — 
An honest man would sell these traps ; not let 
His creditors go begging. 
Grocer, Ay, or come so. 

{appealing to Felipa.) 

You think it too. 

{to Columbus.) 

You see it in her face. 
Tailor {half aside). Oh, he sees nothing ! Give 
one's brain a whack. 
It flies from earth to stars. They're all in here. 
{poifitifig to his head.) 
Columbus {referri?ig to implejuents on table). These 

are the tools I work with, gentlemen. 
Grocer. Humph, they work poorly, better give 

them up ! 
Columbus. The king 



32 



COLUMBUS rilE DISCOVERER. 



Tailor. "Tis ten years since we heard of Iiim. 

Columbus. Your bill's but three months old. 
Tailor. I spoke of hearing, 

Columbus. The present king has not been on the 
throne 

But 

Grocer. Every king's the same to us — and you, 
You'll find. 

Columbus. Wait, gentlemen 

Tailor. We've learned that lesson. 

Columbus. My brothers will be here to-day. 
Tailor. And then ? 

Columbus. You'll find that I'm in favor at the 

court. 
Tailor. If so ? 

Columbus. 'Twill send me what will outpay more 
Than twenty score of times your paltry bills. 
What say you ? 
Grocer. Well, we'll wait, perhaps. Fact is, 

"Tis hard to break old habits. 
{to Tailor.) 

.Shall we, eh ? 
(Tailor bows 'm acquiescence. Grocer continues to 
Columbus.) 
But see we get what balances our claim, 
Or else we'll weigh these things against them yet, 

{Pointing to the table.') 
And sell them too by weight. 

Exeunt — Right .SV^/c— Grocer ^//^/ Tailor. 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERKK. 33, 

Columbus. No doubt they will. 

'Tis common in the judgments of this world 

For worth to yield to weight. 
Dona Correo. 'Tis a disgrace — 

A scene like this in my own sister's house ! 

Felipa. Why, sister, when the king 

Dona Correo. Oh, dear, you know 

The king's a fiction, like all else that's here. 
Felipa. But yet the king took interest in his charts, 

And sent for them. 
Dona Correo. Ay, ay, and found out so — 

'Tis likely now — that he can't draw at all — 

Except from his own fancy. Who wants that ? 

A visionary man produces visions ; 

And in the world that is, men want what is. 
Columbus. Why, madam, I am accurate. 
Dona Correo. Perhaps. 

Who knows it though ? Yourself ? If one besides, 

You're not the great discoverer that you deem. 

And if there's no one knows it, all must judge 

By what they hear. What do they hear of you } 
Correo. Humph, I can tell. 

{to Columbus.) 

Forgive me; but 'tis time 

You knew the truth. I thought, perhaps, to lease 

A ship that you could sail, — make money by. 

But 

Dona Correo. Been too long from practice ? 
Correo. No, no ; worse ! 



34- 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 



Dona Correo. Is such an idler, as they think ? 
CoRREO. Worse yet — 

A man who can't be trusted, sure to do 
The wrong thing for the right. 
Columbus. And you say that ? 

Correo. Not I, but those that give you reputation. 
Columbus. Am I to blame ? 

Correo. Who else is, pray ? They say 

That you would sail but heaven alone knows 

where. 
And I confess, I half believe you would. 
Felipa Oh brother ! 

Columbus {aside to Correo). Cruel, talking thus to 
her! 

{to Felipa.) 
The other room will be far better, dear, 
Than this. 'Tis nothing ! — They exaggerate. 
They hurt my feelings ? Oh, why, why, why, why, 
You never saw a fisher catch a fish 
Whose bait would not get tangled in the line. 
Just wait. I'll get the better of them yet. 
You trust to me. There, dear. 

{Gesturing- f J Maid to wheel Felipa.) 

I'm coming soon. 

Exeunt — Left — Maid wheeling Felipa /// her chair. 

Dona Correo {to Correo). You're right. The 
time has come to tell him truth. 
(7('' Columbus and gesturing toward Correo.) 



COLUMBUS 7' HE DJSCOl'EKER. 35 

You think him cruel. What are you, yourself ? 

{Foi/ifing toivard the Left.) 
See what ten years of this have made of her ? 
I come, and find her wanting everything— 
Food, physic, nearly dying at your hands. 

Columbus. No, no ; do not say that. 

Dona Correo. I will. 'Tis time. 

Columbus. She still believes in me. 

Dona Corrf.o. As infidels 

In their Mohammed, and are cursed for it. 

Columbus. I think that you forget. How many 
men 
Of humble, foreign birth demand and get 
A summons to an audience with the king .' 
Say that of such importance that the king, 
To weigh it, calls his wisest counselors 1 
Who argue it for days, with some, at least, 
Upon his side whom you think stands alone ? 

Dona Correo. How many on his side ? 

Columbus. Enough to make 

The king request his charts — the work of years 
That you think wasted. 

D(jna Correo. 'Twas five months ago ; 

And nothing's come of them. 

Columbus. There's too much life 

In truth of any sort, to let me doubt 
That where 'tis sown 'twill grow. 'Tis a begin- 
ning. 

Dona Correo. A verv small one. 



36 COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 

Columbus. And a seed is so, 

Whose growth's enormous. When one waits the 

dawn, 
A flush is better than a flash, which oft 
But bodes a rush-light. 

Enter — Right — DiFGO and Bartholomew, to whom 
Columbus noiv turns. 

Ah, they come at last ! — 
My brothers, welcome ! 
Diego {to Columbus). 

So to you. 
{to Dona Correo and Correo.) 

And you. 
Bartholomew. And all. 

{All greet each other?) 

Columbus {to Diego). You bring me news? 
Diego. Ay, by and by. 

{Glancing at Dona C. and Correo.) 
Columbus {to Dona C. and Correo). You will ex- 
cuse us ? 
D. Correo. Certainly. 

Exeunt — Left — Dona C. and Correo. 
Columbus {to Diego). This news ? 

Diego {sadly). My brother, can you bear it ? 
Columbus. I have borne 

With many things. 
Diego. You've been misunderstood, 

Misjudged, maligned ; but all were less than this. 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVEREK. 

Columbus. How so ? 
Bartholomew. The kin<r 



37 



Columbus. He has not sent the money ? 

Bartholomew. The money ? 

Columbus. Yes, his agent promised it. 

Bartholomew. We had not thought you cared so 
much for that. 

Columbus. Not I, but these — my wife, my family. 
The king sent here requesting all details. 
It took me weeks to draft them, had to turn 
My methods upside down and inside out, 
And mass and microscope and magnify. 
Till truth was large enough for all to see it. 
Meantime, what gaze had I to fix upon 
My earnings ? So they fled, and now — — 

Dtego. I see. 

No watch-dog keeps a creditor at bay 
Like well-housed earnings. — But we've heard no 

talk 
Of pay. 

Columbus. When it was clearly promised ? — what ? 
Then I, who trusted in the royal word 
And gave it currency, am made for this 
A charlatan wiio trades upon a cheat ? 

Diego. And worse. He's kept your charts. 

Columbus. He's kept themi" — Why — 

With truth, the longer kept, the longer thought of ; 
And thinking feeds conviction. On my soul, 
The king will let me sail yet. You shall see. 



38 COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 

Bartholomew. Oh no, not you ! 
Columbus. Not me, not me ? — and why ? 

Diego. My brother, all your draughts, your work 
for years 

Rest like a charter in another's hands. 

His powers are piloting to-day a ship 

That's pointed toward the west ; his head's de- 
creed 

'i'o wear the wreath for what your own conceived. 
Columbus. Impossible ! 
Diego. I'm sure of it. 

Bartholomew. And I, 

I know his pilot — not a firm man though ! 

He'll never cross the sea. 
Columbus. I could prefer 

He should, than by a failure earn my scheme 

Discredit. 
Diego. Which he surely will. 
Columbus. Too true ! 

Diego. Oh, curse the king I 
Columbus. Could you have conceived 

Such baseness ? 
Diego. Don't ask me. I'm not the devil. 

Columbus. What reasons could he have ? 
Diego. Enough of them 

In such a world as this. You've genius, brains ; 

And those without them must get even with you, 

If not by higher then by lower means. 

You are original and they derived ; 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 39 

And thought that's centered in itself, owns not 

A parentage that puts another first. 

And you're a foreigner, they Portuguese. 
Columbus. But such dishonor in a king! 
Diego. Why not t 

A king is human ; place is relative ; 

Dishonor's honor when true honor's down. 

Make men in common kneel, and common men 

Stand up like giants. Banish out of sight 

The bright minds, and the dull ones beam like 
beacons. 

{A knockmg is heard at the Right Side Entranee?) 
Enter — Left — the Maid. 
Maid. My master ? 
Columbus {to Maid). Well ? 

Maid. Your wife desires to see you. 

Columbus. Yes, presently. There's some one at 
the door. 

Exit — Righ t — Maid. 
(Columbus continues to the brothers^ 

If 'twere not for my wife here, I should leave 

This Portugal forever. 
Bartholomew. 'T would be well. 

Columbus. There certainly is elsewhere enterprise 

With honesty. I think that I should try 

The court of England. There's a land with men 

White skinned, the spirit just behind the face. 

Their very faults the proof that they're not false ; 

Too impudent for truthlessness, too bold 



40 COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 

To Stab behind one's back, too proud of push 
To trip with little tricks, too fond of sport 
To keep one down, when down. 
Bartholomew. I might try it. 

Columbus. You might and would, Bartholomew? 
Bartholomew. I will. 

Enter — Right— Vi ^\\^. 
Columbus (to Maid). A visitor ? 
Maid. A message from the king, 

Diego. We knew 'twas coming. Now you are 

prepared. 
Columbus. My soul demands in one whom I obey. 
A moral equal, at the least. It comes 
In vain. 

{To Maid.) 
And messengers ? 
Maid. Yes. 

Columbus. Show tiiem in. 

Exit — Right — Maid. The nr.$-<?/" Columbus 
follow her, and hwk through the door, whieh 
she leaves ajar. 

Breviesca ? He alone makes both of them 
Birds of most evil omen. 

E7Jter — Right — Breviesca and another man, at- 
tended by Maid, 7vho exits at Left. All boiv. 
Gentlemen i* — 
And will you sit .' 

{lie motions towards seals. Their manner in- 
dicates refusal, and they remain standing.) 



COLUJMBUa THE DISCOVERER. 41 

Breviesca. I thank you, no. The king 

Has sent requesting you to visit him. 
Columbus. Requesting me to visit him ? For what ? 
Breviesca. Your charts. — He would examine them 

with you. 
Columbus. With what intent ? 

Breviesca, To satisfy you 

Columbus. Me ? 

Tell him I'm satisfied remaining here. 
Breviesca. But he demands your presence. 
Columbus. Oh, demands ! 

'Tis not for my sake, then — for his, you come. 

You've brought me then the means with which to 
go? 
Breviesca. How so? 

Columbus. The money? or conveyance ? 

Breviesca. What? 

Columbus. I need the one or other. 
Diego. Certainly. 

Breviesca. But when the king demands 

Columbus. I have demands 

That antedate the king's. He promised me 

A sum of money for my charts. Where is it ? 
Breviesca. You dare dispute the royal will ? 
Columbus. I dare 

Dispute what you impute to royal honor. 

Enter — Left — Maid, evidently in distress. 
Maid. My master ? 



42 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 



Columbus. Why, what is it ? 

Maid. She — seems — dying. 

Columbus. What, what ? my wife ? 

{Starts for the door — Left — Breviesca makes a 
gesture of disapproval^ 
Breviesca. Give us your answer first. 

Columbus. You press this now ? 
Breviesca. We represent the king. 

Do you forget that he must be supreme .-' 
Columbus. I do in presence of a Higher King. 
Oh God, had he but kept his word with me 
This had not happened ! 

Exeunt — Left — Columbus atid the Maid. 
Breviesca {bowing sarcastically to Diego and Bar- 
tholomew). So we shall report. 
{Exeufit— Right — Breviesca and other tnan. 
Bartholomew. Diego, if the king excuse this 
yet — — ■ 



Diego. His creditors who hear of it will not. 
{Pointing totvard Left.) 
If she be flown, I fear we all must fly. 
Bartholomew. But why should he so suffer ! — I 
half think 
There's that in truth to spirit which makes all 
The world its enemy. 
Diego. Yet conquers it. 

Curtain. End of Act I. 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 43 



ACT SECOND. 

Scene First -.—A Spanish camp by night, illumed by 
distant red camp-fires. Backing at the Left a royal 
tejit with curtains before its entrance. To the sides 
at right of stage, connecting with Right Side Second 
Entrance, the tent ^y" Columbus, its curtains draicni 
aside revealing a cot or lounge on which two or more 
can sit, also a chair or two. fust outside the same 
tent on the side toward the center of stage, a log on 
which t7C'o or more can sit. To the sides at Left of 
stage, trees. Entrances at the Luft Center through 
the royal tent ; at the Right Side Rear, behind the 
Z^///^/ Columbus,- at the Right Side through his 
tent : at the Right Side Front, between it and the 
audience ; and at the Left Side, Rear and Frotit 
through trees. 

Enter — Left — a Moor. 
Moor. Darkness for deeds of darkness ! Thank 
the stars, 
I've ahnost reached the queen's pavilion ; yet 
In all this Christian camp, blood-red as life, 
Not one suspects the Moor — this heathen worm 
Who's wriggled to it's core. Her tent ! — steal in J 
{Addressing his steel dirk as he looks at it, then lifts if 
upward.) 
Ay, that's my motto : Steel in, till you start 



44 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 



The spirit of the queen, steel it away. 
Hark ! — some one's coming. — I must hide. — Aha i 
{Looks around, then apparently hides himself 
in the folds of the canvas at the Back Side 
of the tent of Columbus.) 
Convenient folds these ! — Thank you, Christian 
friends. 

Exit the Moor — Right — behind the tent of 
Columbus. 

Enter — Right — through this tent, Dif.go and Colum- 
bus, dressed as a soldier. 
( The two are at first inside the tent ; but, as 
they talk, they gradually come out onto the 
stage in front of it.) 
Columbus. You've heard from England and Bar- 
tholomew ? 
Diego. I have. 

Columbus. And his success ? 
Diego. They thought us fools. 

And how fared you in Genoa and Venice ? 
Columbus, They knew we were. I half believe 
that flight 
Was all that saved me from a mad-house. Oh, 
The world's a tyrant to the soul would serve it. 
It treats him like a female relative 
Whose drudgery is deemed supremely paid 
By her own love. But when the wage one wants 
1 Is not within one, love's not paid at all. 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 



45 



Diego. Yes, yes ; I fear you'll have to give it up. 

Columbus. My voyage .-' 

Diego. Yes. 

Columbus. Not till I die ; and that 

I'll do as soon as hope dies out of me. 
Diego. But you've enlisted here ? 
Columbus. It helps me on. 

Men judge of us by standards in themselves ; 
And so like us when they see us like them. 
Kings take to tales, too, writ with points like 
this— 

{Pointing, with a gesture, to his sicord.) 
'Twill underscore " your humble servant " when 
He signs his next request. 

Enter — Left Side — at tlie Rear two young 
Officers. They stand looking at Colum- 
bus and Diego, making signs to indicate 
that they consider Columbus out of his 
mind. Columbus notices them. 
Diego. You've met the king.> 

Columbus. I'm waiting for a chance 

Diego. It promises ? 

What seem your prospects ? 
Columbus {pointing to the officers). 

Watch those men and see. 
We use sign-language here. Theirs means " Co- 
lumbus." 
The women, children, all have learned it, too, 
And point it now and then with exclamations. 



46 COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 

Diego {glancing angrily at the men). Outrageous ! I 

will stop them. 
Columbus {staying him luith his hand). Why, what 
use ? 
'Tis better to be made a laughing stock, 
Than have men take in us no stock at all. 
Diego. Do you say this, who were so sensitive, 
High-spirited ? 

{The Officers cross the stage and Exeunt at the 
Right Rear) 

Columbus. One may have so much sense 

It holds the spirit down. Besides, our spheres 
Are stagnant and need movement. Make men 

take 
You gravely if you can ; if not, what though 
They laugh ? They're moved in that way. There 

are times 
The tiniest tinkles that can shake the air 
Ring up life's curtain for its grandest act. 

Diego. You talk like one that's lost all friends. 

Columbus. Why so ? 

'Tis light that trails a shade. 'Tis those with 

friends 
Are sure of foes ; and only those with neither 
Are sure of neither. 

Diego. Then you have them ? 

Columbus. Yes. 

Diego. What class of people ? 



COLUMBUS TJJE DISCOVERER. 



47 



Columbus. Oh, both Dukes and Dons ; 

And, to make life complete, at least one woman, 

Diego. Aha ! 

Columbus. The image of my lost Felipa. 

Diego. You're then to marry ? 

Columbus. If I had the wish 

I could not have the will. Her family 
Are not agreeable 

Diego. To you ? 

Columbus. To her, 

When seen with me ; and — well ! — enough 
For one man to have sacrificed one woman 
To appease what he esteems as God. 

Diego. How so } 

Columbus. A woman craves attention and a home. 
Her lover's mission, let it oft withdraw 
His ear or sphere from her, seems then her rival. 

Diego. It would not, did she love the man's true 
self. 

Columbus. Mayhap, and yet the kinds of love men 
feel 

For mistress and for mission are so like ! 

What, if behind the mission's love should be 
Some sentient spirit too in realms unseen ? 
These women may be right. They may have 

rivals. 
But what J'elipa felt I could not help. 
Yet may avoid its repetition. 

Diego {doubtfully). Humph ! 



48 C0LUMBU3 THE DISCOVERER. 

Columbus. This one is but a sister, name more 
sacred 

Than wife, I think, as wives go now. 
Diego. She thinks 

This too ? 
Columbus. She should, and you ? 
Diego. I think, perhaps, 

You ought to marry. 
Columbus. Oh no ! I have vowed 

Religiously — 
Diego. And might not be the first 

Religion led astray. 
Columbus. Astray! how so.? 
Diego, A brotherly or sisterly regard 

Grows up from family relationship. 

Train boys and girls together, side by side, 

As in one loyal household, holding all 

Humanity, and then perchance, may love's dis- 
honor 

Seem foul as incest, and imperilers of it. 

No longer vehicles of life humane, 

Unsouled of self-control, all flag themselves 

The death-trucks that they are, and make health 
scud 

From their contagion as from carrion. 

Columbus. You mean 

Diego. The young are not so trained in Spain — 

Not schooled to know each other, soul by soul ; 

And nothing but the soul can outweigh sense. 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 
Columbus. In general, true ! — but she — 



49 



Diego. Our lives reflect 

The light of our surroundings. What are here ? — 
Accursed customs that distrust the soul, 
Ay, robe its every feature in their rags, 
Each draped to hint deformity beneath. 
Away with earthly habits that can hide 
God's image framed within ! 

E?iter — Left Side Front — the Monk, Juan 
Perez, another Monk, the officer Sanchez, 
and several Soldiers. 

Columbus {looking toward the Monk). Why, who 

are these .'' 
Perez {to Columbus). 

God greet you friends. 
Columbus. His messengers are welcome. 

Perez. And doubly so if from Jerusalem ? 
Columbus. The holy city } 
Perez. Yes. The grand Soldan 

Of Egypt sent us. 
Columbus. With a message t 

Perez. Yes. 

He vows that if the Spaniard will not stay 

This war against the Moor, he'll rouse the East, 

Pull down all Christian churches, and beneath 

Entomb their worshipers. 
Columbus. He thinks this threat 

Will influence Ferdinand ? 
4 



50 COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 

Sanchez. It should not. 

Soldier. No. 

Columbus. But must the faithful suffer? 

Perez. They do now. 

At each pretext oppressed, reviled, deprived 
Of property and freedom, flayed and hung, 
And heaven knows what ; for it gets most of 
them. 

Sanchez. This should not be. 

Perez. Ah, when what should be is, 

What is will be beyond this earth. 

Sanchez. As soon 

As Spain's white line of ships have tailed for 

good. 
This flying kite of Africa, and cleared 
The blue about us, there should rest no ship 
Unarmed to right our brethren there. 

Soldier. Not one. 

Perez {to Sanchez). Would you go ? 

Sanchez. Ay, I would. 

Perez. The time may come 

Sanchez {to Soldiers). 

Meanwhile, the Moor ! Now, to your stations — 
march. 

Exeiiut — Right Side Rear — Sanchez and Soldiers. 

Diego {glancing at the Monks, and speaking aside to 
Columbus). 
They'll see the king — might speak for you, not so ? 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 51 

Columbus {to Diego). They might. 

{To the Monks.) Perhaps you'll rest with us to- 
night ? 
Perez. We thank you — and your name: ? 

{The Monks and Dieco, as Columbus ges- 
tures to them, enter tent ^Columbus aiid 
sit. Columbus sits on the log to the left 
of his tent with his hack to center.) 
Columbus. Columbus. 

Perez. Oh ! 

I've heard of you. 
Columbus. Heard good ? 

Perez. Why — 

Columbus. Ah, have not. 

I understand. The silence of the good 
Damns more than bad men's curses. Yet my 

aims 
Are one with yours — to speed the truth to all. 
But " all " means more than most men deem. 
Perez. The wise 

Aim not beyond their reach. 
Columbus. The faithful aim 

Wherever they are called. 
Perez. You heard the call 

Just made ? 
Columbus. And not a breast could out-thrill mine 

With indignation at the tale. 
Perez. It failed 

To stir your lip to pledges. 



52 COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 

Columbus. When heaven crowns 

My present purpose 

Perez. You'll be like your mates, 

Ennobled, rich, and found a family. 
Columbus. My western mission is for Christ 
alone. 

Pray heaven with me that I fulfill it ; then 

I vow to live a life like yours, and more — • 

To give it to this eastern mission. See — 
{Drmubig his sword and shotving the cross forming 
its hilt.) 

This cross that aims the sword I wield. 'Twill 
find 

No final rest, till waved above the crescent, 
Perez, You seem a holy man. 

Enter — Left Center, from the royal tent, — 
Beatrix, advances across the stage, 
touches Columbus on his back, then 7vith- 
draws toward Right Side Rear, behind his 
tent. 

Columbus. Nay, none is that. 

When men seem holy do not think of them, 
But of the cause that has affected them. 
(Columbus ;v>,?i', as if looking for Beatrix.) 
Perez {to the other Monk). He seems inspired to 
purposes well worth 
The world's regard. 
Other MoNk. He does. 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 53 

Columbus {aside as he looks behind him). 

What's this ?— I think 
I know. (To Diego) Diego, will you guide our 

friends 
Across the pathway to the vacant tent ? 
There's one here who has business with me. 

Exeunt — Right— through the tento/CoLUU- 
Bus, Diego and the two Monks. 

Enter — Right— from behind the same tent, BEArRix. 

Columbus. You, Beatrix ? and here ? — this time of 
night ? 

Have you forgot ? Your father 

Beatrix. Is a bird, 

Flown southward, wrong, forgetting for a time 

The winter whence it fled ? 

Columbus. But there are ways 

Beatrix. I am not welcome then ? 

Columbus. Oh no — not that— 

But unexpected. 
Beatrix. I have heard you say 

Good fortune would be so. 
Columbus. You bring it, eh ? 

Beatrix. One door ajar to it. These worthy 
friars, 

Just in your tent, I hear, will see the king. 

They might commend you. 
Columbus. Yes, I thank you. 

Beatrix. VVell ? 



54 COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 

Columbus. How so? 

Beatrix. You're cold. 

Columbus. The night is. 

Beatrix. I am not. 

Columbus. No, no. forgive me. 

Beatrix. 1 have more to say. 

The Dona Bobadilla 

Columbus. Your old foe } 

Beatrix. New friend ; for your sake made and 
kept a friend 

By courtesies limbering my stiff limbs of pride 

Till limp and limping as humility. 

Columbus. But really 

Beatrix. Really, when one's inward sense 

Of mastership outweighs an outward show 

Of servitude, why, one but serves herself. 

This Dona Bobadilla has in mind 

To urge your claims upon the queen. 
Columbus. She has ? — 

What is it makes a woman serve like you 

A mere enthusiast without success ? 
Beatrix. That's better than to serve one with 

success. 
Columbus. Why so ? 
Beatrix. It shows a spirit as it is. 

It throw's one's manhood into full relief, 

Stript of all circumstance and accident. 
Columbus. This heart of mine were heavy were it 
not 



COL UMB US 1 IJE DISCO VERER 



55 



Made light by eyes so bright as to detect 
Beneath all veils disguising what it is, 
Its one sole virtue. — You forget that all 
The world is full of brains, and all the brains 
Of whims, and all that gives the whims more worth 
Than blood that churns them up to consciousness, 
Is that they leave the brain and live in deeds. 
Mine have not done this yet. 

Beatrix {sitting on log to left of tent of Coliiinbns, ami 
in doing so, letting the shawl that she has ivorn 
fall from her on to the log behind her. Colum- 
bus stands at the right, and after a little while 
sits beside her"). 

The deed that best 
Proves each man's workmanship is what he is. 
If God be the eternal, he who shows 
Eternal perseverance falls not far 
.From fellow-craft with Him. 

Columbus. You're like a myth 

You're not inspired, but yet inspiring ; not 
Religion, but could make a man religious. 

Beatrix. You speak in figures. 

Columbus. We all live in them. 

Beatrix. What then ? 

Columbus. Why, they are beautiful. 

Beatrix. And this 

Gives life its beauty ? 

Columbus. Ay, and interest. 

For every time a spirit veiled in them 



56 COLUMBUS I'HE DISCOVERER. 

Reveals itself, why, it anticipates 
The resurrection of the soul, not so ? 
And that brings heaven, 

Beatrix. Then to reveal myself 

Columbus. Is very much in such a world as this — 
When one owns so much that is worth revealing. 
Beatrix. You jest. 

Columbus. No ; I'm in earnest. When one needs 
More strength of spirit, nothing save a spirit 
Can ever give it. You have given me yours. 
Beatrix. 'Tis true, I have. Not seldom I have 
thought 
That I could lose my soul to give it you. 
Columbus. Thank God, a brother's love need not 
accept 
The sacrifice. — But — should we linger liere } 

There's 

Beatrix. Well .-' 

Columbus. Your relatives — 

Beatrix. Of flesh, or soul } 

I care but for the latter. You 

Columbus. But yet 

Their reasons are the world's too. We're in Spain. 
You are — 

Enter — Right— from behind Coliimbtis' tent — 
The Moor, looks at Columbus and Bea- 
trix then begins to draiv azvay from the 
log the shawl that is beside and behind her. 
Beatrix. A virgin, yes, but were I the 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 57 

CoLUMRUS. Do not say that — 

Beatrix. I could imagine times 

That you would seem divine. 
Columbus. "ris very strange 

How near together heaven and hell may be. 
Beatrix. 'Tis only earth and earthly thought that 
make 
It possible for sense to deem them two. 
Throne Ood in hell, all heaven would burst the 

gates 
And dream of blessed rest, though every foot 
Were sea'd upon a prostrate seething devil. 

{The shawl drawn by the Moor disappears 
from the h)g behind Beatrix. Just as it 
does so, Columbus eatrhes sight 0/ it. The 
Moor starts baek and 7vraps the shawl 
about him. Columbus rises.) 
Columbus. What's that ? {to Beatrix who also rises.) 

Your shawl 

Beatrix. Was taken ? 

Columbus. Yes— drawn off. 

Beatrix. Some one was listening ? 

Columbus. Yes— keep still. 

{Exit — Left Center — through the royal tent — 
The Moor. Columbus sees him. 

I see 
A form. It disappeared there in your tent. 
Beatrix. My shawl on ? 
Columbus. Yes. 



58 COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 

Beatrix. Why, all the ladies' tents — 

The queen's are reached through that. I'll follow. 
Columbus. No — 

A thief, — assassin, may be. No, let me — 
{Advancing tnvard the royal tent.) 
Beatrix (stopping him). Be thought a culprit ? — 

never ! 
Columbus {handing her a dirk.) Then take this, 

And call me. I will keep in hearing. — God ! 

I cannot bear to let you go. 
Beatrix. I must. 

Exit — Left Center — through the royal tent 
Beatrix with the dirk in hand. 

Columbus. How brave in her ! Yet what could 
one expect ! 
How brave in her to let me know her love ! 
And what unnatural, unmanned man am I, 
Who does not, will not dare, return it her ! 
Strange mixture life is of the right and wrong ! 
Should one be good, or kind ? and which is 

which ? 
How much that seems to lead to both is but 
A ray that falls to form a pathway here 
From the rent forms of clouds beyond our reach 
That, while they let the light in, bring the storm ! 

Voices {from within the tent at Left Center). 
Help, help ! 

Columbus. What's that ? 



COLUMBUS 2'HE DISCOVERER. 59 

Beatrix (appearing at Left Center^ 

Columbus, come ! — A Moor 
Has killed the guard. 
Columbus. You rouse the camp. 

(Call 1)1 g aloud) A Moor ! 

Exit Left Center, Columbus. 
Beatrix {calling aloud). A Moor ! 

Enter — Left Side Rear ^ Second and Front — Sanchez 
<7«^/ Soldiers. Beatrix/(?z>2/j to Left Center. 
In there ! — He'll kill the queen. 

Exeunt — Left Center — Sanchez and Soldiers. 

Voices {from luithin the royal tent at L^ft Center). 
Ay, ay, take this and that. 

Enter from Left Center., Sanchez, Columbus and 
Soldiers dragging a dnrntny form of the Moor. 

Sanchez. Here — drag him out ! 

There's no life left him. Humph ! he's limp 

enough 
To make a rug of at the door. 

Enter — Right Side Rear — other Soldiers, the officer 

Gutierrez and the'KiNo. 
Gutierrez. The King. 

{All fall back. The King looks at the Moor) 
KiMG. Who is he ? 

Sanchez. An assassin — sought the queen — 

Surprised the guard. 



6o COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 

King. He did not reach her? 
Sanchez. No. 

{Pointiiigto Columbus.) 
Well nigh ! He tracked him in. We mastered 
him. 
King {to Columbus). Ay, ay ! Your name ? 

Columbus. Columbus. 

King {to all.) We'll to rest. 

{To Columbus). 
But you may come with me — Would see you 
further. 

Exeunt — Left Center — King, Gutierrez, 
Columbus, Soldiers, Beatrix. 

Exeunt at other entrances., Omnes. 



Scene Second. — Council Chamber in the Dominican 
Convent of St. Stephen at Salamanca. Dark wood 
paneling in ceiling and taalls. A long table in the 
Rear with chairs behind it and at both ends. En- 
trances at Right and Left sides. Enter — Left — 
Zalora and Fernandez. 

Fernandez. You here ? 

Zalora. Oh yes. One must obey the king. 

Fernandez. He must suppose the times ahead 

are dark. 
Zalora. How so ? 
Fernandez. In giving us \.\\\s pastime. 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 6i 

Zalora. We have our holy days and holidays. 
I sometimes wonder which are holier. 

Fernandez. What, what ! and you a priest ? 

Zalora. An old one — yes. 

Like other earthly things, our lives move on 
Half light, half shadow, and with me 
The shadows came in youth. 

Fernandez. Your brilliancy 

Developed late, eh } like a winter's dawn — 
Or lightning from a cloud. You're right, though, 

yes, 
Life's like an air-ball : keep its youth-side in, 
'Twill bulge out on its age-side. Say, does that 
Make preachers, eh ? sensational ? You should 
know. 

Zalora. You think sensations are acquired ? 

Enter — at Right — St, Angel and Perez and ex- 
change greetings with Fernandez and Zalora. 

Fernandez. I know 

A soul that squeals well, is a soul well squeezed. 

Sensation is the step-son of depression. 

You step on 

Zalora. Oh, go to ! —that spoils the form. 

St. Angel. What form .^ 

Fernandez {to St. Angel). Why, of a ball. 

{to Zalora) Not so ? 
{to St. Angel) Tell why 

A child's ball — say — and bishop are alike. 



62 COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 

Perez {laughing and pointing to Zalora). 

Because, like him, they're usually round I 
St, Angel. And sometimes, though not always, 

Jioly, eh ? 
Zalora (good-naturcd/y). 

Don't point your wit with personality. 
St. Angel. Oh never, never, when the person's 
blunt. 
But now the child's ball ? 
Fernandez. Why, the ba7ci/ is made 

{Brings /lis hands down as if ordaining., and also 
striking a blow) 
By laying on of hands. 

{All laugh.) 
Enter — Right — Mendoza and Talavera. 
Enter — Left — Arana, Fonseca, Breviesca and 
others. All in, or entering, the hall ex- 
change greetings. 
Talavera {to Fernandez). What's this you're at ? 
Fernandez. Our duty here — to deal with nonsense. 

You 
Should know. You sent for us. 
Zalora. And why for me ? 

I'm not an expert on insanity. 
Fernandez {to Zalora). Oh no, you're on beyond 

an 6'jcpert. 
Talavera. A present pert ? 
Fernandez. Beyond that too. 

Zalora. How so ? 

Fernandez. Beyond an apert is a^-2-pert. 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER 63 

Zalora. That's low down in tlie alphabet of wit. 
Fernandez. I know — the last of it — just where 

you shoo it. 
FoNSECA {to Arana /// another part of the hall). 

But think. — the danger. 
Arana. Oh, he'll never sail ! 

FoNSECA. It's not in that, but in his theories. 

You know they contradict the church. 
Arana. If this 

Be true — 
FoNSECA. It is. I say 'tis serious. 
Fernandez {to Fonseca). And what of that ? I 
say the best of physics 

For seriousness is laughter. Where there's bile, 

Well tickled throats will throw it up. 
Fonseca. To fool 

With fools is feeding folly. 
Fernandez. Feed a fool 

On folly, and he grows so fat with it 

That he protrudes, obtrudes, intrudes on all 

Till everybody sees the dude he is. 
Breviesca. But he himself must see it. 
Fernandez. If he's dull 

And off his balance, balance him, ay, ay — 

Get even with him — no great task for you ! 
Talavera. Come, come. We're making too much 

light of this. 
Fernandez. What better can enlighten dullness, 
pray, 

Than rnakin^ lis:ht of it ? 



64 COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 

Breviesca. He's more than dull. 

St. Angel. That must be proved. 

Zalora. Aha ! So you're his friend. 

Then tell us, if you can, just why we're here. 
St. Angel. Why, to report about Columbus. 
Fernandez. Humph ! 

About him's good. How far about him. pray } 
St. Angel. The truth. 

Fernandez. What, what ? We're not to exercise 
Our minds } — let them revolve about, and then 

Evolve 

Fonseca. Oh, cease your jesting ! 

All begin to take places ar omul the table, though 
not yet to sit. Talavera goes to the central 
seat behind it., Mendoza to his right, and 
St. Angel and Perez to the right o/Mkn- 
DOZA. Fonseca, Breviesca, Arana, 
Zalora and Fernandez are at Tala- 
vera's Zif//. Others sit where there are 
places. 
Fernandez. I'm in earnest. 

We're a committee sitting on Coluipbus. 
An old hen, even, doing this, I say, 
Would hatch out something. We're committee- 
men. 
Men are creative. All things else are creatures. 
Am I to act the man, or prate the parrot .-• 
Fonseca. We'll show you. 
St. Angel {to Perez). Ay, they'll show us, as I think. 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 65 

Birds of another s feather — birds oi prey. 
Perez. They follow their profession then. 
St. Angel. In that — 

And making mortals humble. Give one aught 
To plume himself on, he'll not go unplucked. 
But there's the victim. 

Enter — Right — Colum bus. 
Talavera {to those in the ehamber). 

Gentlemen, Columbus. 
{To Columbus and all.) 
I think you've met before. 

(Columbus and all exchange greetings.) 
We all are here. 
We'll sit, not so ? 

The others sit. Talavera motions to 
Columbus to do the same, which he does at 
the extreme Right. 

Where thought appeals to thought, 
The only sovereign is the wisest word, 
Which sometimes is the last one. Even if first, 
'Tis always of the spirit, and needs not 
Accoutrements and courtesies of form 
To prove its prestige. We can waive them, then, 
And let the spirit prompt us as it may. 

{Turning to Columbus.) 
'Tis said you wish to have a fleet and men, 
And outfit, too, involving much expense. 
What reasons have you ? 
Columbus. To extend the sway 

5 



66 COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 

Of Spain and Christianity in lands 

Where now they are not known. 
Talavera. That wish is ours. 

What proof have you, though, that these hands 
exist ? 
Columbus. Reports of mariners — authority — ■ 

'i'he nature of the world. 
Talavera. Do these off-set 

The dangers ? 
Columbus. Which ones t 

Arana. Like the boiling waves 

Of Africa, and giants on the shores. 
Columbus. Mere fables, all ! Why, I myself have 
sailed 

To Guinea, past where these were said to be. 

And have you never heard of Eudoxus 

Of Cyzicus, who left Arabia 

And reached Gibraltar ! how too from Gibraltar 

The Carthaginian Hanno, sailing back. 

Came to Arabia ? 
FoNSECA. All pagan lies ! 

Columbus. A statement that confutes a general 
faith 

At risk of reputation ; yet meantime 

Confirms our natural reasoning, seldom lies. 

Who would have said this, had it not been true ? 

Vet that it should be, what more natural ? 
Zalora. But sailing east is not the sam€ as west. 
Columbus. Enough is known to warrant even that. 



COL UMJ3 i 'S THE DISCO I 'ERKR. 



-'^7 



Fernandez. St. Erandan and the seven cities, yes ! 

But then they've always melted into clouds 

To those who've sought them. 
Columbus. There are many more. 
Menpoza. Atlantis, eh ?• 
Columbus. Yes, and Antilla too, 

Well known to Carthage, Aristotle says. 

And many a modern vessel has been driven 

Where siiores have been descried by accident 

And other signs of 

FoNSECA. Desert islands. 

Columbus. No. 

Vicenti, twenty score of leagues beyond 

The Cape St. Vincent, came on floating wood 

Carved by men's hands. 
Zalora. Ay, from some other ship. 

Columbus. Then lost in many places. \\'ood 
carved thus 

Was found by my own brother Correo. 

And plants and trees too drift thus from the west. 
FoNSECA. Washed there, washed back. 
Columbus. No, different in kind 

From any in the East. They've found besides 

Two men's forms cast upon the isle of Flores, 

W^ith features not at all like men known here. 
Arana. And what of that ? 
Columbus. The men — not only they — 

The trees, the plants, are like in kind to those 

Described by Polo and by Mandeville. 



68 COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 

As found in those great lands of Gengis Khan 

And Prester John, far in the Indies. 
Arana. But 

They're east, not west. 
Columbus. Just so, both east and west. 

Fernandez. What's that .' 

Breviesca {Jo Fernandez). You see 

Columbus. This seems a contradiction. 

It would not, did you think the world were round. 
Fonseca {laughing). No, never, no ! 
Arana. He's right, ha, ha ! 

Zalora {to Columbus sarcastica/Zy). You're right. 
Columbus. There is authority for thinking this. 
Arana. For fancying it, yes ; or anything. 
Columbus. But Aristotle, Seneca and Pliny 

Say one can sail from Cadiz to the Indies. 
Talavera. Yet wait. Besides this, is it not a fact 

That they too calculated three years' time, — 

Enough to starve a ship's crew ten times over 

Before her cruise could compass it ? 
Columbus. Some did ; 

Yet, judging by the globe of Ptolemy, 

Compared with one Marinus made, of Tyre, 

There's but a third of it that's unexplored, — 

Eight hours of twenty-four. You measure this. 

It can't be more tlian seven hundred leagues. 
Fonseca. You measure it ? — The whole thing's 

merely fancy. 
Arana. There's not a ray of reason in it. 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 69 

FONSECA. No. 

Arana {to Columbus). And, granting earth's a 
globe — What, then, forsooth } — 
Could sail around it, without tumbling off } 
FoNSECA {to Zal(jra). Ay, or without the water's 

tumbling off ? 
Arana. Same thing ! 
Fernandez {good-natitrcdiy to Columbus ). 

I think that you must be the man 
Fve heard of often, though Fve never seen him, 
Who wants to turn the whole world upside- 
down • 

Fonseca. Where roots of trees bear leaves, and 

rain spurts up. 
Breviesca. He'll be at home there — better let him 
go! 
His own head's upside down already. 
Fernandez. You wait now. This is science. They 
examined 
The feet of men they found at Flores ; not so ? 
Zalora. They did ? 

Fernandez. Oh yes ! and found them shaped like 
spider's, 
Made to walk up like this. 

{Gesturing with his ha/ids.^ 
Breviesca. Fve seen that kind 

Clawed on a pictured devil. 
Fonseca. If he sail. 

He'll see them soon enough upon a real one. 



70 COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 

Talavera. Oh, now ! 

FoNSECA. I mean it ; ay, I speak the truth. 

The holy father, St. Augustine, shows it : 

Men formed like this — to walk thus upside- 
down — 

Could not be sons of Adam. Did they live, 

'Twould overthrow our whole historic base 

Of Christian faith. 
Arana. Just so ! 

FoNSECA. To argue it 

At all, grant it conceivable — what's that 

But heresy ? 
Zalora. Hear, hear ! 

Arana. You're right 

Breviesca. Ay, ay. 

Columbus. But are you sure these men are not 

like us ? 
Fonseca. You'll have to practice many years be- 
fore 

\'ou'll walk with your heels up. 
Columbus. But there, as here, 

The earth may seem to be below one. 
Arana. Ah ! 

We grant to fancy, man, a certain flight. 

We've witnessed one to-day. But do you dream 

It's wings could turn us all to flies 

Without our knowing it ? 
Columbus. There may be laws 

Of nature past our understanding. 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 71 

Breviesca. Yes. 

He means that when we lose our understanding — 

He's had experience of that — why then 

Talavera. Come, no more nonsense, gentlemen. 
Zalora {rising). No more ? 

Time to adjourn then, eh ? There's nothing else 

Before the house. 
Columbus {rising to address Zalora). 

In such a case as this, 

In which none know the truth 

Fonseca {rising). Your pardon, but 

The Scriptures say : " He stretcheth out the 
heavens " — 

How ?— like a ball .'—No, no ; but " like a tent." 

You dare throw doubt upon the word of Him 

Who framed creation ? 
Columbus. What you quote is but 

A figure. 

Fonseca. Fiction ? 

Columbus. Figure — not tiie same. 

Breviesca. Accuse of figuring — Him who knows 
the end 

From the beginning — all the sum at once .'' 

He does not figure up. He counts the whole. 
Talavera {to Breviesca). Oh, you mistake his 

meaning ! 
Breviesca {looking around incrcduloush^. What ? 
Fernandez {to Breviesca). Yes, yes. 

Columbus {paying no attention to Breviesca). 



72 COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 

Were one upon the other side the globe, 

The heavens might seem as Hke a tent as here. 

FoNSECA. They only might ? The Scriptures say 
they do. 
You make them doubtful ? 

Breviesca. Heretic ! 

Arana. Too true ! 

Columbus. My one desire, the purpose of my life 
Is to become an earthly instrument 
Through which the Scriptures may become fulfilled, 
That all the ends of earth — they are ends now — 
Be brought together with one Lord and God. 

Fonseca. What good would this do. if His word 
were false ? 

Columbus (/// surprise). You think I deem it so.^ 

Fonseca. We've heard you term 

Its affirmations figures, argue down — 
And that with pagan proofs — the fathers. Truth 
Can never change. 

Columbus. \\'e can. 

Fonseca. And change it? 

Columbus. Change 

Its bearings for us. Truth is of the heaven : 
The mind regarding it is of the earth. 
The one is infinite, the other finite : 
The one expressed in light itself, the other 
In forms that but reflect light ; and the truth, 
Made such but by reflection, cannot flash 
An equal ray to every view-point. 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 



73 



Several. Oh ! 

Columbus. Give blind men sight. At first their 
new-viewed sun 

Will stand still in the heaven. But give them 
time, 

'Twill set and rise. Then give them space, as 
well. 

Lift them a thousand miles above the soil, 

It may do neither. 
Arana. Dangerous doctrine that ! 

FoNSECA {to Columbus). There's no truth then } 
Columbus. There's truth enough for all. 

But truth expressed is coin to use, not hoard. 

For when it bears the stamp of times too old. 

It loses current value. 
FoNSECA. Hear that ! hear ! 

Why, that blasphemes tradition ! 
Breviesca. Just as if 

Antiquity itself did not prove truth ! 
Columbus. The moonlight guides us, if we have 
no sun. 

But forms that loom at midnight lie to those 

W'ho know them in the day ; and in the day 

No judgment of the distance can be true 

Except to him who pushes on to reach it. 
FoNSECA. Hold ! Hold ! Enough of this ! There 
is a law 

That ought to be enforced here. 
Arana. We shall see ! 



74 



COLUMBUS THE DISCO P'ERER. 



Columbus. The world will see in time that I am 
right. 
No theory spun for concepts immature 
Can ever fit their full maturity. 

Enter — Right — an Attendant. 
Talavera (rising). A moment, gentlemen. 
(To Attendant.) 

What is it .? 
Attendant. Here's 

The royal courier. 
Talavera. Ah, has come so soon .-• 

{To all.) 
Then for to-day our conference must end. 
{All who are sitting rise.) 
Columbus {to Talavera). 

And I withdraw ? 
Talavera {bowing in. assent and adieu to Columbus). 

We thank you for your candor. 
(Columbus boivs to all the council, and the council to 

him.) 
E.xeunt — Right — Columbus and Attendant, show- 
ing him out. 
Fonseca {?noving with others toward the Left). 

But we must see we have no more of it. 
Fernandez ( to Zalora, Talavera and Mendoza, 
who are walking behind Fonseca, Arana, 
Breviesca and others). 
A spark in hayloft ! bull in porcelain ! 
We'll have the whole church crackling round us yet. 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. jr 

Exeunt — Left— Vo^SECK, Arana, Breviesca „nd 

others. 
Mendoza {to Fernandez). 
But racy as a bull fight ? 
Fernandez. !„ the which 

The bull did some tall tossing. 
Exeunt— Left—First Mendoza, then Zalora, Tala- 

VERA and Fernandez. 
Perez {to St. Angel). Did you hear .?— 

Strange words for him. 
St. Angel. Oh, no ! Fve always found 

The light mind is the bright mind. Wit and wits 
Are twins ; when one is absent, both are lacking. 
Exeunt— Right— ?,T. Angel and all others. 



Scene Tm^T>.— Exterior of the Con7rnt of LaRabida, 
near the little seaport of Ralos, in Andalusia, in 
Spain. Baeking, a wall, behind 7vhick are hills, 
trees, and a distant sea-7'iejv. At the right, agateivay 
opening into the Coni'ent. At the left, trees, etc. 
Entrances at Right Side Rear, behind the Consent; 
Right Side, further forward, through a gateivay 
opening into the Convent; Left Sidr Rear and 
Front through trees. 

Enter— Right Side 7?^v?/'— Beatrlx and Diego ift 
out-door costumes. 

Beatrix. I could not keep him back. 



^6 COLUMBUS THE DISCOl'EREK. 

Diego, You tried to block 

His pathway, eh ? but he looked over you — 

Beyond you ? 
Beatrix. Humph ! poor treatment from a friend ! 
Diego. You wished to fill his whole horizon then ? 

Beatrix. Why — in a friend 

Diego. 'Tis easy enough to do : 

Make friends of little souls : they're common. 
Beatrix {offended). What .' 

Diego. A spirit's measure is its outlook. Find 

A man horizoned by a world of worlds, 

And all in all and always, he's a son 

Of God. He's here to do his J'ather's work ; 

And you must join in it, or not join him. 
Beatrix. Why should he go to France ? — no sailors 

there. 
Diego. A spirit conscious of a higher mission 

Is always on the wing. 
Bea frix. You know our king 

Gave weight to his suggestions, promised ships .' 
Diego. But would not place my brother in com- 
mand. 
Beatrix. 'Twas safer so. 
Diego. For whom .' 

Beatrix. Columbus. 

Diego. \Mmt >. 

You talked of his own safety to my brother.' 
Beatrix. Why, he had done his duty, sown his seed ; 

Then why not leave the rest to Providence ? 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 77 

Diego. Fling seed to seas, or hope 'twill root in 
winds ; 

But do not trust your thoughts to Providence. 

Their soil is in humanity, nor there 

Spring, grow, or ripen without husbandr}-. 

Beatrix. He's talked and argued 

Diego. Oh, to talk the truth 

Is easy as to breathe. To live the truth, 

And, mailed in its pure radiance, burn to black 

The shade its white heat touches, needs a strength 

To suffer hatred and inspire to love. 

Half hell's, half heaven's, and wholly Christ's. 
Beatrix. And yet 

If others sail 

Diego. The goal is so far off, 

And so unseen, that all but faith will fail ; 

And this they lack. 
Beatrix. But yet, you told him, too, 

You thought 'twas vain to leave here. 
Diego. Feared 'twas vain. 

But you, you urged him to submit, not sail, 

Nor push his claims upon the king. 
Beatrix. Of course. 

Diego. Poor, lonely man ! 
Beatrix, His own fault — would not have 

A soul go with him. 
Diego. Why should he ? To minds 

In which the spirit so subdues the sense, 

A lack of sympathy itself is absence. 



78 COLUMBUS THE DJ.SCOl'LRER. 

Beatrix. But you will join him ? 

Diego. Like a faithful slave 

Whom word, not thought, commands. 
Beatrix. Why should not I .'' 

Diego. You're better off at home than with a man 

With no home either for himself or you. 

He's often told you that. 
Beatrix. A home's a state, 

Not place. 
Diego. A state of happiness, and that 

He knows he could not give you. 
Beatrix. Do you think 

W^e'U really see him here.-* 
Diego. Why, yes, I think 

They'll find him ; and, if so, they'll bring him back. 

He can't oppose a meeting with the queen. 
Beatrix. You say she lunches with the monks to- 
day ? 
Diego. I heard so, yes — 

(^Pointing toward Left Side Rear.) 

And look she's coming now. 
Beatrix. I have some faith in her. 
Diego. Faith always waits 

On perfect womanhood. Show men a form 

Whose symmetry of outward nature frames 

A symmetry of soul, whose pure-hued face 

Complexions pureness of the character, 

Whose clear sweet accents outlet clear, sweet 
thought, 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOIERER. -9 

Whose burning eyes flash flame from khidled 

love, 
And all whose yielding gracefulness of mien 
But fitly robes all gracious sympathy,— 
Ay, find a soul whose beauty of the shield 
But keeps more bright the blade of brain because 
Of what seems merely ornament, — to her 
All men must yield a spirit's loyalty. 
She's fairy-goddess of the world of fact. 
Dream-sister of the brotherhood of deeds, 
An angel minister as well as queen. 
Whom all the splendor of high station lifts 
But like the sun that it may light us all. 

Enter — Left Side Rear — the Queen .t;/^/ Attendants, 
amo)ig them St. Angel. 
Enter — at the same time — at Right Side 
through the eoni'enfs gateway^ Monks, 
among them Perez, behind them Sanchez 
a?id Columbus. 
Perez (to the Queen to whom all do reverence). 

We feel much honored by your presence 
Queen. Nay, 

You are the ministers of higher power. 
The honor comes to me. 
Beatrix {to Diego in the rear). 

There is Columbus. 
Diego. They've found him then. 
Beatrix. I wonder what he'll say. 



So COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 

Perez. Your majesty, your couriers have re- 
turned. 

They found Columbus. 
Queen. Yes ? and where .? 

Perez. Far up 

The mountains, just this side the boundary. 
Queen. Alone ? 
Perez Alone. 

{introducing Columbus) Columbus. 
(Columbus salutes the Queen.) 
Queen {to Columbus). As I hoped 

And you were leaving us ? 
Columbus. I was. 

Queen. Why so ? 

Columbus. I have an aim in life. 

(Beatrix, in her gestures towards Diego, to 
7vhich she tries to attract the attention of 
Columbus, expresses disapproval of his 
answers which folloiv here.) 

Queen. I thought the king 

Had promised ships. 
Columbus. He had. 

Queen. And officers. 

Columbus. Not those for such an undertaking. 
Queen. You 

Can go with them. 
Columbus. Your pardon, but — I beg — 

Excuse me. 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 8r 

Queen. Why ? 

Columbus. I have no time to waste. 

Queen. To waste } 

Columbus. 'Tis eighteen years since I began 

To urge this project. I'm no longer young. 

Queen. Why, ships and men, and you to sail 
with them ! — 

Columbus. Sail off, sail back — I have no time to 
waste. 

Queen. You think they would not persevere ? 

Columbus. The goal 

Is not of their discerning. — Why should they 
Be thought the ones to bring it to the light ? 

Queen, But they 

Columbus. To them 'tis but a madman's whim, 
A thing to flout. To me the one conception 
Of all that is most rational and holy. 
Which, then, would give his life that it might 
live ? 

Queen. Why, we had hopes that none would need 
do that. 

Columbus. And hopes well based ; yet any man 
who sails 
Across that unknown sea must show far more 
Than enterprise, experience, caution, skill, 
Knowledge of sail and compass, wind and star. 
His soul must be embarked upon the voyage 
With aims outreaching all that but concern 
The narrow limits of this earthly life. 



82 COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 

Queen. How few such men ! Where would you 

find your crew ? 
Columbus. Wherever mind is subject to ideas. 
Queen. And where is that? — You judge men by 

yourself. 
Columbus. I would not dare to boast such differ- 
ence, 

Or so humiliate my humanity, 

As to presume it possible that aims 

Inspiring my own soul, if rightly urged, 

Would not inspire, too, many another. 
Queen. Yes, 

I can believe it, with yourself to urge them. 

And were you given command, would you collect 

A crew and sail with them ? 
Columbus. No man can reach 

A problem's right solution, if he fail 

To calculate aright the means. 
Queen. Of course — 

And that 

Columbus. Has not been done in this case. 
Queen. No "i 

What more would you require ? 
Columbus. Ten times the sum 

That has been promised. 
Q'teen. 'Tis impossible. 

There's not that in the treasury. 
Columbus. I would give 

The whole I have^ — both property and life. 



COLUMBUS THE DJSCOVERER. ^7, 

Sanchkz. And I. 

Queen. You would ? — you're rich. 

Sanchez. 1 would. 

Diego {co7nini^for7c<ard and bowing before the Queen). 

And I, 
Though I have nothing— only what you see. 
St. Angel. Your Majesty, with men like these, 
prepared 
To root their very spirits out from earth, 
That they may thus transplant them where the 

world 
Will reap a richer fruitage, what were Spain, 
Were she to grudge a void from which were 

scraped 
A paltry heap of gold ! 'Twere all too mean 
To pedestal aright the lasting fame 
That would be hers, did they attain their end. 

Queen. 'Tis true, and yet the royal treasury 

St. Angel. Are there no treasures elsewhere than 

in that ? 
Queen (Jiesitating a moment). 

There are. If I be queen, let me be queen 
Of Spanish spirit as of Spanish soil. 
I will — there is a treasure. — What to Spain 
Are her most precious treasures, which most deck 
The crown that they surround, and keep it bright ? 
Mere jewels, think you ?— Nay, not these, but men. 
And if I give the one to gain the other, who 
Could strike a better bargain .? Ay, I will — 



84 COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 

I pledge you the crown jewels of Castile. 
1 pledge you the commandership. Enough ! 
Columbus, you shall go. 
Columbus (^falling oil his ktiecs before her). 

God bless the queen. 
{The others fall on their knees beside Columbus.) 

(curtain.) 
End of Act Second. 



COLUMBUS I HE DISCCVERER. 55 



ACT THIRD. 

Scene First. — A street in Palos de Moguer, in Anda- 
lusia. Backing, a distant harbor, with ships. At 
the Right, a porch before the house of Beatrix. At 
the Left, other houses. Etitrances, Right Side Rear, 
behind the house of Beatrix ; Right Side Second, 
through a door opening fnnn this house onto the 
porch in front of it ; Right Side Front, through the 
street in front of this house ; Left Side Rear and 
Front, through streets. 

(The curtain rising discloses Columbus and Beatrix, 
standing on or near the porch.) 

Columbus. Now I must off, and see the ships. 
You know 
I've been a week away. 

Beatrix. You met the queen ? 

Columbus. And king, and got their last instruc- 
tions. 

Beatrix. Oh, 

I cannot bear to have you sail ! 

Columbus. Nor I 

To leave you. 

Beatrix. Yet 



86 COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 

Columbus. I must. 

Beatrix. Oh, yes, you must ! 

Columbus. Our lives are finite, but the aims of 
life 

Are infinite, and crowd on every side. 

\Miateer we strive to reach, in thought, in 
deed, 

At last, some one aim surely tips the balance ; 

As it has weight, the others are thrown up. 
Beatrix. No matter who goes with them ? 
Columbus. I had hoped, 

Now that my project seems, at last, afloat. 

That your soul would be buoyant as is mine. 
Beatrix. Yes, yes, but yet can it be worth the 

price .'' 
Columbus. I know your meaning, — loss of life, 
perhaps. 

And all for which some prize life, — ease and love. 

I've told you so before, it is worth this. 

And others go with me who think the same. 
Be.\trix. Some call them fools. 
Columbus. Some ? — where ? 

Beatrix. In all the streets. 

Columbus. Here .'' 
Beatrix. Yes. 

Columbus. They are fools, if this life be all ; 

And fools, as well, if they but claim 'tis all. 

For, risking dangers thick as mid-sea-mist 

In war, in wave, men's deeds outdo their words. 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 87 

And prove they serve a grander sovereignty, 
Whose reahns outreach all death-lines. 
Beatrix. Is it these 

You seek in that cloud-compassed, storm-set sea ? 
Ah, how can I put it before your life ? — 
Or, how can you .'' 
Columbus. I've said I did not know. 

What moves me seems beyond all conscious 

thought 
'Tis like the lure that leads the summer bird 
Southward when comes the winter. 'Tis enough, 
It is my destiny. I weigh it well. 
And find it rational ; yet why I first 
Conceived it as I do, I cannot tell. 

Enter — Left Side Rear — Diego. 
DiE(;o {to himself as lie looks at Beatrix). Like all 
the other women in the town, 
She's leagued to keep him back, eh ? Oh, 'tis not 
In nature that a man obey a woman. 
And human ways, when not in nature, bode 
Th' inhuman somewhere. Humph ! I'll let him 

know 
That none can turn to she the pronoun he 
Without an s that puts a hiss before it. 

{1^0 Columbus.) 
My brother ? 
Columbus {to Diego). Ay ? 

Diego. There's business (Diego and Beatrix bow 
to each other). 



88 COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 

Columbus. I know it — {to Beatrix), 

I'll find you later. You'll excuse me now. 

Exit — Right Side Second — into her house, Beatrix. 

Diego. You should have come before. That 
woman's gowns 

Are always clinging- to you — look as if 

She thought to make a woman of yourself. 

Confound their sex ! 

Columbus. Not all now ! There are some 

Diego. Some men too ; but in all of Spain, not six 

To man your vessels of their own free will. 

Why not ? — Because not fit to go with you. 

How many women, think you, fit for it ? 
Columbus. Don't be so hard upon them. 
Diego. No, they're soft, 

As soft as cats, and mew, too, ay and scratch. 

I've seen their blisters ! ay, I've seen a man 

Whose very soul had been scratched out by one. 
Columbus. You talk as if you feared for mc. 
Diego. I fear 

For all the expedition. You've not heard 

The news. 
Columbus. What is it ? 
Diego. Everything that's bad. 

Columbus. The ships are 

Diego. Floating. You may thank the guards. 

The crews have all deserted. 
Columbus. What.^ 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. ^^ 

Diego. As if 

The bowlings of tlieir wives and mothers here 
About their ears, could bring them less of hell 
Than bowlings of the wind upon the sea ! 

Columbus. The women have persuaded them to 
break 
Their word with us ? 

Diego. \\'hy, yes. Who else would, eh ? 

What woman ever cared about her word — 
Her own word or her husband's 'i Bless her jaws ! 
So many more words there, she doesn't need it. 

Columbus. Oh, waive the women ! ■ Is it true the 
crew 
Have all deserted } 

Diego. Almost all. 

Columbus. But yet 

The government 

Diego. Of course, they've sent around 

Arresting some, imprisoning others. Oh, 
You'll have enough of them ! They've found a 

source 
That's inexhaustible. 

Columbus. What's that } 

Diego. The jail, 

Which, like an Arab-shirt turned inside out, 
Will shake its lice upon you. 

Columbus. That, at least, 

Will give us men. 

Diego. If you can call them men, 



9° 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 



These creatures, whom a life-long fear of day 

Has trained to crawl through nights of treachery; — 

Sneaks, too irresolute and indolent 

To push by honest means to worthy ends. 

But I would trust in waves adrift for hell 

As soon as helms in hands of criminals. 

What can you ever do with such as these 

When three months out at sea ? 
Columbus. I must depend 

Upon my officers. 
Diego. You're sure of them ? 

You never know a coward till he's cowed 

By gusts that can out-wind his self-conceit ; 

And garbs they guise in, never cloud the air 

In time for us to brace the fence they fell. 

I wish that I were going with you. 
Columbus. No ; 

We've talked that over. One should stay behind 

To guard our interests here. 

Enter — Left Side Rear — Gutierrez. 

Diego. He's needed, too, 

Far more than you could guess. This officer 
Will tell you. He's the one has been in charge. 

Gutierrez {exchanging salute %uith Columbus). 
We're glad to see you back, sir. 

Columbus. Thanks. 

The ships are safe and ready ? 

Gutierrez. Guarded, sir, 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. gr 

All night, all day. Some men here took an oath^ 

Perhaps you know, to scuttle them. 
Columbus. They did ? 

I'm glad they've not succeeded. 
Gutierrez. No, of course. 

We always guard a ship that's been impressed 

For royal services, like treasure. Still 

They came within an inch of it. 
Columbus. How so .'' 

Gutierrez. We thought that Breviesca was your 

friend. 
Columbus. Quite otherwise, I fear. 
Gutierrez. You're right, but yet^ 

As agent of Fonseca, Bishop of 

Columbus. Oh, worse and worse ! The bishop, I 
believe. 

Would be assured that only truth had triumphed, 

If I and all the crew were drowned. 
Gutierrez. Ah, so ? 

Well, they have tried it. 
Columbus. What ? 

Gutierrez. To have you drowned. 

Columbus. You mean ? — 

Gutierrez. Tried to corrupt the calkers. 

Columbus. No ! — 

You're sure of that ? 
Gutierrez. 'Twas overheard. 

Columbus. Good God ! — 

This man Breviesca ? 



92 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 



Gutierrez. Yes, 'twas he. 

Columbus. And you ? 

Gutierrez. We turned the calkers off ; and had a 
task 

Impressing others. When 'twas done, we put 

A soldier back of every one to calk 

His pores with steel unless he calked the ships'. 
Columbus. And now they're ready t 
Gutierrez. Will be, by to-ni^dit. 

■Columbus. We'll sail to-morrow, then. 
'Gutierrez. Meantime, perhaps — 

You'll pardon me — you'll hold yourself unseen ? 
GOLUMBUS. Why so ? 

Gutierrez. To save a coniiict with the mob. 

Columbus. You mean that 

Gutierrez. They might keep you here by force ; 

Or sacrifice your life, and readily, 

To save their friends. They deem all these are 
doomed. 
Diego. Why, very victims burning at the stake 

Could never cause a cloud more black than seems 

To hang above the town to-day. 
Columbus {to Gutierrez). I see. 

Your hint's of value. I'll be with you soon. 

Exit- — Left Side Rear — Gutierrez, after saluting. 
Columbus continues to Diego. 

So so ! You note what influenced Beatrix. 
Diego. Of course. A man but in his public thought 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 93 

Thermometers thepublic sentiment. 
A woman does it in her private thought ; 
And woe to lovers who dare say tlieir say- 
Without a little clique that, echoing it, 
Can make it seem, at least, a little public. 
Columbus. But you can't blame her — 
Diego, Trend the fashion .? No, 

You flaunt the flag of fashion in a crowd 
And, in tlie bee-line of their rush to tail 
Its leading, one could pick the women out 
Without their having skirts on. 
CoLUMRus. I must send 

To Pinzon. He expects me at his house. 
Diego. Yes, I'll go. 

Columbus. Thanks, and say that I must wait, 

And meet him at the ships. See Perez too, 
And tell him that we sail at dawn, and wisli 
The sacrament. I know he'll come. We'll use 
The little chapel that's beside the dock. 
Diego. I will. 

Exit — Right Side Fro/it — Diego. 
Columbus [to himself). Now I'll go this way — 
{looking toward the left, then at the house of Beatrix) 

Though I ought 
To say a word more here. When courtesy 
And caution balance in the scales, the heart 
Is kinder than the head, if not more wise. 
Enter— Right Side T^V^r— Breviesca, Pintor, and 

ROLDAN. 



94 COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 

Breviesca {stepping between Columbus and the house 
of Beatrix). 

Columbus ? 
Columbus. Breviesca ! 

Breviesca. Yes, I wish 

To speak to you. 
Columbus. You have your wish. 

Breviesca. I bring 

An invitation from the bishop. 
Columbus. Which — 

Fonseca ? 
Breviesca. Yes. 

Columbus. And where is he .'' 

Breviesca. Why, at 

The monastery. 
Columbus. On the other side 

The town, not so ? — and what's his object ? 
Breviesca. Oh ! — 

About the mission that the church has planned. 
Columbus. These matters have been all arranged. 
Breviesca. But he 

Would see you. 
Columbus. He can see me at my ship. 

Breviesca. He's full of work. 
Columbus. Then give him my regrets. 

Breviesca. But he demands your presence. 
Columbus. No ; I'm not 

Within his jurisdiction. 
RoLDAN. Ho ! hear that. 



COLUMB US 7J1E DJSCG 1 7; RL R. 



95 



PiNTOR. He's right, though! He's no Spaniard; 
no — a dog 
Of Genoa — no Christian — a Q\\x\%-chien . 
Columbus. I've work the queen has ordered. I 

must do it. 
Breviesca {laughing afid poititing to the house of 
Beatrix). 
Yes, yes, the qiiccn of hearts. 
PiNTOR. A ^x^XX)- gavic I 

She's taken by a knave. 
Columbus. It might be well 

To imitate the mien of gentlemen. 
Breviesca. And you of Christians, and obey the 

bishop. 
Columbus. I've given you my answer. 
PiNTOR. Frightened eh ? — 

Aha ! — would get behind the soldiers there. 
{Pointhig toward the ships and harbor at the Left). 
Columbus. A man who lives for others, not for 
self. 
Has little fear for self ; yet care for them 
May give him caution. I've the best of reasons 
For keeping eyes upon the ships. 
PiNTOR {sareastically and looking signifeantly at 
Breviesca and Rolda.v). 

Oh, yes ! 
Breviesca {approaching Columbus and laying his 
h.uid on him). 
Sa\-, will you go with me ? — I think you will. 



96 COLUMBUS THE DJSCOVKREK. 

Columbus {knocking Breviesca down). 

Yes, yes, when I'm down there with you, T will. 

Enter — Left Side — Gutierrez ivith two Soldiers. 

Enter — Right Side Front — Diego. 

Exit — Right Side Rear — Pintcjr <7//r/ Roldan. 

Diego. What is it ? 

Columbus. Why, I'm practicing, you see — 

On criminals. — That man there set a trap. 
But it takes two to make a trap work. He, 
He was a genius, this man, played both roles. 
He set it and was caught in it. 
Exit — Right Side Rear — Breviesca, craivUng anx- 
iously away. 
Diego and Gutierrez start to follow and arrest him. 
Columbus motions them hack with his hand. 

No no ! 
Diego. And you. my brother.? Such a patient 

man .'' 
Columbus. Oh, patient! When a tire's been 
smouldering 
For eighteen years, don't blame it's blazing out. 
Thank God it did not wholly blast the fool 
Who sought to slir it — thought it had no life. 
The villain ! if I only could be sure 
He would be better for the punishment ! 
Diego. You go now to the ships ? 
Columbus. "^'cs, very soon. 

Gutierrez. Shall I go with you .'' 



COLUMBUS rilE DISCOVERER. 97 

Columbus {ascending the porch of the house of 
Beatrix). Wait here if you choose. 
But yet, I think, of all men living, I, 
By this time, should have learned to go alone. 
Exit — Right Side Front — Diego. 
Exit — Right Side — through the porch — Columbus. 
Gutierrez motions to the soldiers as if setting a guard 
about the house of Beatrix. 
Exit — Right Side Front — one Soldier. 
Exeunt — Right Side Rear — other Soldier «;/<;/ Guti- 
errez. 



Scene Second — 77ie deck cf the ship of 
Columbus. Backing, sky and sea : at 
first, invisible, because it is night; later 
visible, as at sunrise ; and, if thought best, 
representing, in a panorama, a gradual 
approach of the ships to shore, the scenery 
moving from Right to Left. At the right 
is the bow of the ship. At the. left, a 
cabin with a deck above it. on which Sailors 
can stand. There are also masts, sails, 
and various arrangetnents which 7C'ill 
readily suggest theinseh<es, a compass, 
ropes, railings, etc. 

Entrances — /.eft Side Rear — and — I.eft Side 
Front — oji each side of the cabin ; — lAff 
Side Second — into the cabin, as 7vell as just 



98 COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 

above the cabin on to the upper deck. 
Right Center — through a hatchiuay into 
the ship's hold. 
RoLDAN appears at the bow of the ship, Escobar 
fiear him, and Pintor nearer the cabin. 
Other Sailors also are present. 
'R.O'Lr>AT<i {looking ojf through the dark). I'm sick of 

this. 
Pintor. And so am I. 

Escobar. You wait. 

Another storm will make you sicker still. 
Pintor. If it would only sicken him. 
RoLDAN. Make him 

Throw up, eh .' 

Yes, throw up the voyage. 
Escobar. Oh, 

'Twill come in time. But when it comes, my 

lad, 
The ship will throw up us too. 
Pintor. I know now 

How fish feel when they see the water boil, 
Just when we drop them in alive. 
Escobar. They're not 

More out their element than we are here. 
With these few planks between ourselves and 
hell. 
Pintor. Nor any more sure, either, to be cooked. 
RoLDAN. What means it all ? — those weeks without 
a stir 



COLUMBL\S THE DISCOVERER. gg 

Amid the waves, and then those heavy swells 
V\'ithout a stir amid the winds ? 
Escobar. ^yi,^^. ^^^^^^^^ -^ ,__ 

Why, like enough we're getting near the place 
Where all the waters pour down hill. 
ROLDAN. What's that.'— 

The edge } 
Escobar. Why not.?— In streams you always find 

Smooth, rapid water, waves, and then the plunge. 
RoLDAN. It's quiet now. 
Escobar. So is a cataract 

Just where it nears the brink. 
RoLDAN. "Tis horrible ! 

You don't believe 

Escobar. There must ha\-e been some cause. 

What was it ? There was not a wind. 
Pi^TOR. ,^„^, ^,^^^ 

There was, ten times to one "twas blowing west. 
That's not a wind will ever blow us home. 
Escobar. And what wind think you will, or can > 
RoLDAN. ^ ' Or can.? 

Escobar. Humph ! let him k^'ep on here, a day or 
two. 
These floating weeds will hold us like a vise. 
RoLDAN. He says they're signs of land. 
Escobar. oh. yes, of land !— 

That fatal land afloat in fatal seas 
Entrapping in their meshes all the shijjs 
That dare to venture near. 



L.ofC. 



lOO COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 

RoLDAN {looking for approTa/ to Pintor atul of her 
Sailors, lohonodto him in co/ijirmation ofi.'hat 
he says^ 

We've heard of that. 
Escobar. You have ? — Why, then, you're all a set of 

fools, 
Pintor. I've known that all along. 'Tis not our 

fault. 
FscoBAR. Not ? — Whose } 

Pintor. The government's. It forced us liere. 

Escobar. But we're not kept here by it. What 
does that 
Is one man's will, and he's a lunatic. 
Roldan. How did he ever gain the ear of Spain ? 
Escobar. By talking. Most men's thoughts are led, 
you know, 
In trains of their own talking. Talk them down, 
They've lost their leader. Keep on talking then. 
They'll find in you another. Any sound 
You choose to make, they'll take for sense. Why 

not? 
It's grown to be a habit with them. 
Pintor. Oh, 

'Tis not through talk or thought he deals with 

us. 
But force. 
Escobar. Ay, and he'll find before he dies 

That men accept one's estimate of them. 
If he esteem tliem thinkers, give them thought, 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. loi 

They'll turn to him like thinking beings ; but 

If he esteem them brutes, and give them force, 

They'll turn upon him like a brute. 
RoLDAN. Who'll turn ?— 

Ourselves ? 
Escobar. \\'hy not ? — if he deserve it ? 

RoLDAN. But 

If we should mutiny, and then go home — 
E-.COBAR. The question's not between this place 
and home ; 

No, but the bottom of, the sea and land. 

And other lands are fertile as are Spain's. 
PiNTOR. Oh, you've no wife and children ! 
Escobar. Humph, that means 

My life is not behind me, but before— 

With precious little left of that. And yet 

What's life t — what's time worth, if we've no good 
times ? — 

And he who squeezes these all out our life, — 

Wrings our last drop of sweat to serve himself, — 

He deputies the devil, boss of despots. 
Roi.DAN. You're right. He doesn't care for us .? 
Escobar. What he 

("ares for, is notoriety, and that's 

The bulge of contrast. Crush and hush your kind, 

You're seen and heard of. 
Pi>fT0R. Gad, what right has he 

To gem and offset Genoese mastership 

By making slaves of Spaniards.? 



I02 COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 

RoLDAN. Ay, that's what 

They ask at home ! 
Escobar. Just what they'll ask again, 

If we sail home without him. 
PiNTOR. That they will. 

Why, where's the man of station in the land 

Who'll not be glad to hear we've failed ? 
Escobar. And all 

The rest will see that, when we've sailed beyond 

All others on a sea like this, we've done 

The whole that Spain could ask. 

Roldan. And still 

Escobar. As if 

'Twas not our duty, in a madman's hands, 

To use our reason, and resist him. 
PiNTOR. Yes, 

One should assert his reason. \\'e're not brutes. 
Escobar. We're worse than brutes in his view. 
Brutes, at times, 

To save their lives, will turn upon a man. 

But we — six score to one, but all afraid 

To call our souls our own. Let him appear, 

We fly like cry-girls from a buzzing bug 

One touch could crush in no time. 
RoLDAN. But the court 

Has clothed him with authority. 
Escobar. Mere sheep 

Would not be driven by another sheep 

Though clothed in bear-skin, could they only hear 

His old familiar bleat. 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 103 

RoLDAN. And yet you know 

He has the, power 

Escobar. Because we give it him, 

Who whine, — whine merely like a set of babes, 
Too weak to Uft a finger for ourselves. 

RoLDAN. Tne King 

Escobar. Oh, he's divine ! I grant it ; ay. 

What else could ever pick out, plying but 
A random sword, and prick and pin in place 
As many Spanish cowards as are here .-' 
RoLDAN. Man, you will have us hung for murder 

yet. 
Escobar. There's many a way that one can kill a 
cat. 
The best I know is drowning. Nights are dark. 
And one may slip against a man, and he, 
When slipped against, may tumble overboard. 
If so, he drowns — but how ? — he drowns himself. 
RoLDAN. He's coming — Hark! We — Down — Let's 
clear from this. 

Exeunt — Right Center — Roldan, Pintor 
and Escobar. 
Enter — Left Side Second — Columbus. 
Columbus {to himself). 

He comes on plotting. — That is plain enough. 
How form and face — mere garments that they 

are — 
Will siss and wrinkle to a twist of thought ! — • 
Fools ! — Yet without fools, where were sovereignty 



104 COLUMBUS THE DISCOVER F.R. 

For wise men ? 'Twould be harder work than 'tis 
To do earth's thinking for it ; harder work 
To string the nerves that center in one's brain 
Through all the mass, and rein it to one's will. — 
Can [ do this with these men ? or must I, 
I who have given all these years to it, 
Ay, and uiy young love too, ni)- life, my all, — • 
Must I turn back? — I will not.though they kill me. 

{Looking at papo- in his hand) 
This reckoning shows seven hundred fifty leagues. 
'Tvvas well I made a false one for the crew. 
Already that's six hundred. Humph, without it 
I might have had more trouble. In the time 
I served King Renier, and was sent to take 
The galley Fernandina ; and my crew, 
In fright to hear two ships were guarding her, 
Hid turned our helm, and thought we fiew away'; 
Ah. how I steered straight for her in the night ! 
And fought her at the dawn ! — I'll do so here. 
We men who think, have duties due our kind. 
On„' duty is, to block their finding out 
What are our thoughts, for fear they'll know too 

much. 
The truth is not a plaything for a babe. 
The truth's a gem, and sometimes needs encasing. 
■ Yet, if we sail on long, the day will come 

When our true distance must be known. — What, 

then ? 
What then ? 



COLUMBUS THK JUSCOVERER. 105 

Voices {beyond Left Side Rear). He shall turn back ! 

He shall ! We'll make him. 
Columbus. Hark! hark! — turnback.'' They dare 
speak out like that ? 
Oh, what a cruel destiny is mine 
To unfulfiUment doom'd, if 1 do not 
What even heaven itself has never done, — 
Give patience to a world of restlessness ! 
Oh, God, I think I serve thee. Give me power 
To calm these minds, as Christ made calm the 
sea. 
Enter — Lejt Side Rear — Escobar, Roldan, Pin- 
TOK, Sanchez, Gutierrez, and others. 
What's wrong, my men ? 
Escobar. We came to tell you, sir, 

'Tis time that we turn back. 
CoLUMBi'S. Turn back ? 

A strange idea that ! 
Several. Oh, strange ! oho ! 

Columbus. Why yes, 

With what we've seen to-day— the herbs and 
flowers. 
PiNTOR. We've seen them many a day. 
Columbus. But not the same — 

Not fresh and green ; and then the small shore- 
fish 
And birds too. birds of kinds that never sleep, 
Nor light, except on land — the singing birds 
That perched upon our mast. 



lo6 COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 

Escobar. If there were land — 

It's been called out three times — we've passed it 
now. 
Columbus. We're in a bay, perhaps. 
EscoBA. You wouldn't steer 

As Pinzon wanted. 
Columbus. No ; the birds all flew 

This other way. I thought them flying home. 
PiNTOR. Well, we're not birds. 
Escobar. We're going home though. 

RoLDAN. Yes. 

Columbus. A pleasant swim ! This ship is going 

on. 
Several. No, no. 

Columbus. Why, men, you've said the same 
before. 

Have you forgot how many of you cried, 

Ay, cried, in fear of burning skies above 

The Teneriffe volcano ? — and I said 

It would not harm you. Did it ? Then shot by 

That meteor ; and I said it too would pass. 

Did I mistake ? Then tireless western winds ; 

But east winds turned them. Then a glassy sea ; 

But billows broke it. Then these signs of land ; 

And now they multiply, as I had hoped. 

If so far I've been right, I've earned your trust. 
Escobar. Ugh ! Those are old tales now. 
Several. Yes. 

Columbus. Let them be. 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 107 

The land toward which we sail is not unknown ; 
And those who've seen it say, were all the gold 
In all of Europe grouped and fused to make 
A single mass, 'twould hardly form one cliff 
Of endless mountain ranges that are there. 

RoLDAN. Hear that now ! 

Columbus. They would be enough to make 

A lord, at home, of every one of you 
Without the title ; but, think you, the court, 
The courtiers, would not wish you this besides ? 
YoL", who had burned through unknown darkness 
here 

More brilliantly than comets through the sky ?— 

I mean it, for the trail you leave behind 
Will write in deathless light around the world 
The endless glory of our Christian Spain. 

RoLDAN and Others. Yes, yes. 

Escobar. No, no, come on ! 

{Moving toward Columbus, and urging others to do 
the same). 

PiNTOR (to KoLUA-!^ and those who hoid back). You're 
pledged to us. 
Lay hands upon him. Make him yield. 

Columbus {as Escobar gets near him). 

Stand back. 
I represent the king. 

Escobar. We're not your slaves. 

Columbus. Far better so than slaves to one 
another. 



I08 COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 

Lay hands on me, 'twill not be I alone 

Have six score masters. Look you to your mates. 

You've pledged yourselves to stand together? 

What ?— 
Have you, or you, no foe in all this crew 1 
And now you place your life in that foe's hands ? 
When all he needs to raise himself in Spain 
Is to speak truth of you, — you think he'll not ? 
Ay, kill me, drown me, yet I'll be avenged. 
When bad men band, 'tis traitors fill their camp ; 
And, if a fair foe fail, the foul will not, 
For in that fight are God and devil both. 
RoLDAN. That's true. I'll not be found here. 

{Tiiniiug away loifk others). 
PiNTOR. No, nor I. 

Columbus (asidir). At last the tide has turned. 
Heaven help me now. 

{to the sailors). 
I thought that I had officers and men 
Too manly to see one man stand alone, — 
That some would stand beside me. Was I 
wrong ? 
Sanchez. No. 
Gutierrez. No. 

(RoLDAN and those with him come beside 
Sanchez a//^/ Gutierrez. They approach 
Columbus. E.scobar_/<//A hack). 
Columbus. I thank you, men. I hoped as much. 
And now — why now you're my brave crew again. 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 



[09 



You've been so brave, I could not bear to think 
That you could fail of perfect victory — 
Here, too, almost in sight. How you would feel 
When, after that next voyage — which now 'tis 

sure 
That some one else would make, did we go 

home — 
You saw the wreaths and wealth that you alone 
Had really won, deck other heads and hands ! 
Sanchez. You're right. 
RoLDAN, Ay, ay. 

Columbus, You had forgotten this. 

Well, we'll forget what's happened here to-night. 
You know, men, I'm in this same boat with you ; 
And all that comes to you must come to me. 
RoLDAN. That's true. 

Columbus. Then let the matter rest. Enough ! 

Now to your places. 

Exeunt — Left Side Front — Left Side Jiear — 
and Right Centei- — all except Columbus, 
who watches them for a moment, then con- 
tinues speaking to Jmnself 

One more crisis passed ! 
How many further ? — Lord, how long ! how long ! 
{Kneels a moment, then rises and looks off oi'cr the sea.) 
Because an owl will gaze at darkness so. 
It does not prove he sees — mere habit. Ah ! 

{A slightly 7noving light appears through the 



no COLUMBUS THE DISCOl'ERER. 

curtain backing at the Right, and another 
steady light at the Left slightly different 
from the first. Columbus looks at the 
first:) 
What's that ?— a hght ? — 'Tis not Uke Pinzon's ? 
.No. 

{Looking at the light at tlie Left). 
His Pinta's there — and yet — I thouL^lit — why yes. 

(^Looking to the Left). 
The Nina's here behind us. — Yet this light — 

(Looking again at the light at the Right). 
It cannot be a star ! — Am 1 deceived > 
{Beckoning to Left Side Rear.) 
Here Pedro, Pedro Gutierrez. 

Enter — Left Side Rear — Gutierrez. 
Gutierrez. Ay. 

Columbus {pointing toward the Right Back). 

Can you see anything off there t 
GuriERREz. ^^■by yes — 

The Pinta. 
Columbus {pointing to the Left Back). No, the 

Pinta's here. 
Gutierrez. So 'tis. 

The Nina's gone ahead, then ? 
Columbus {pointing to Left). No, lool< back 
Gutierrez. 'Tis some ship's Hght. 
Columbus. You're sure 'tis not a star. 

Gutierrez. How can it be ? 



COL UM8 US THE DISCO I 'ERER. , 1 1 

Columbus. There's Sanchez. I'll ask hi:n. 

Rodrego. 

{CaUing to some one beyond Left Side Front). 
Enter — Left Side Front — Sanchez. 
Sanchez. Eh, sir ? 
Columbus {pointing to the Fig/it Back). 

Can you see that light } 
Sanchez. Where 1 

Columbus. There, beyond the Pinta's. 

Sanchez. Yes. I thought 

The Nina was behind us. 
Columbus {pointing to the Left). 

So she is. 
Sanchez. What ? can another ship have sailed off 

here ? 
Columbus. Another ship, eh ? Watch it further. 
Gutierrez. Why 

I think it moves. 
Sanchez. It does ! 

Columbus. Not up and down 

As if on waves, but to and fro .? 
Gutierrez. Just so! 

Columbus. Yes, some long distance to and fro. 

{The light makes this motion ^ 
S/NCHEz. Let's call 

The others. 
':'olumbus. No, not yet, no false alarm ! 

Gutierrez. You think it land .' 
CoLirMRus {nodding). Inhabited by men. 



112 COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 

Gutierrez. By men ? — Good God ! 
Columbus. Yes, you may well say good. 

Gutierrez. I think I see what seems a line of surf. 
Columbus. Perhaps. If so, the Pinta's nearing it. 

It's almost daybreak. We shall hear her gun. 
Sanchez. Your order that a false report would rob 
Its starter of a chance to take the prize 
Pledged to the first discoverer of the land, 
Will keep the signal back until they're sure. 
Columbus. Best so ! If blind men all were born 
blind, none 
Were cursed by losing sight. In nights like this, 
'Tis not unwakened hope I dread, so much 
As wakened disappointment. 

{The report of a gim is heard.') 

What ? so soon ? 
Sanchez. You see 'tis true ! 
Columbus. No doubt of it ! 

Gutierrez. No, none. 

{The stage is gradually beeoming brighter 
ivith the approachitig dawn. Voices of the 
Sailors are heard?) 
Columbus. The sailors ! I must go now. You 
receive them ; 
And wait till I return. An hour so grand 
As this is, should be welcomed fittingly. 
Exit — Left Side Second — into the cabin, Columbus. 
Enter — Right Center— from the hold — Escobar, Rol- 
DAN, Pintor, and others. 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. n^ 

Enter — Left Side Rear — others. 
(RoLDAN rushes to the Right, and gazes towards 
where the light was first seen.) 
Escobar. A false report, of course ! 

PiNTOR. Of course, but then 

RoLDAN. Good heavens, 'tis true ! 

Escobar. 'Tis true > 

RoLDAN. There's land. 

Escobar. It can't be. 

RoLDAN. Yes it is. Look there. 

PiNTOR {contetnptuously, after looking not exactly 

where RoLDAN points.) A cloud. 
RoLDAN. Cloud ? No. As clear as daylight, man. 

'Tis land. 
Escobar. It is, hurrah ! 
PiNTOR. You think so .? 

Escobar. Are you blind ? 

Tis no mistake, it is land ! 

(to the other Sailors). 

Boys, hurrah ! 
Sailors. Land, land ! 
RoLDAN. No doubt of it ! 

Sailors. Hurrah ! 

They embrace each other and make 7vild demonstra- 
tions of delight). 
Escobar {looking toward Left Side Secotid—and 
calling aloud). 
The admiral ! 

RoLDAN. Three cheers ! 

8 



114 COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 

PiNTOR. The admiral ! 

RoLDAN, He does not know it yet ? 
Sanchez. Trust him for that. 

Sailors (shouting). 

The admiral ! Hurrah ! The admiral ! 
Sanchez. " All hail the Queen," now. That will 
fetch him. Sing. 
(All remo7'e their caps and chant the following) : 

ALL HAIL THE QUEEN.* 

All hail the Queen. 
No thrills can fill the lover's breast 
For that first love he loves the best, 
Like ours that throb to each appeal 

Of her in whom, enthroned above 
The nation's heart, we see, we feel 

The symbol of the sway we love, 

The while we hail our Queen. 

All hail the Queen. 
No cause can rouse the soul of strife 
In men who war for child and wife, 
Like ours that, vowed to victory. 

Know not of rest until above 
The foe that falls, enthroned we see 

The symbol of the sway we love, 

The while we hail our Queen. 

* " The crew were now assembled on the decks of the 
several ships, to return thanks to God for their prosperous 
voyage, and their happy discovery of land, chanting the -Salve 
Regina and other anthems. -Such was the solemn manner in 
which Columbus celebrated all his discoveries." (Irving's 
Columbus : Hook VI., Chap. I.) 



COL UMB US THE DISCO I 'EREK. 1 1 5 

All hail the Queen. 
No loyalty can make a son 
Show what a mother's love has clone, 
Like ours who press through land and sea, 

Our one reward to find above , 
Our gains that show what man can be, 

The symbol of the sway we love. 

The while we hail our Queen. 



( While this song is being sung, the scenery at the 
back of the stage nioTes from Right to Left, 
thus representing the gradual approach of 
the ship to land. Before the music ceases, 
C0LUMBU.S appears in full uniform on the 
Left above the cabin. LLe is clothed in scarlet. 
Behind him stands a standard-bearer hold- 
ing aloft the royal standard, and on either 
side of this, two others hold the banners of 
the enterprise, emblazoned with a green 
cross flanked by the letters F and Y. the 
hiitials of Fernando and Lsabcl. (Lrving's 
Columbus. Book IV., Chap. I., also Book 
VI., Chap. I.) 

RoLDAN {catching sight <y Columbus). 

See there ! 
Escobar. Ah, there he is. 
Sailors. Hurrah! hurrah! 

Escobar (shouting to Columbus). Ay, }'ou were right. 

'Tis here. 
RoLDAN. He's always right. 



ii6 COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 

Escobar. I told you so. 
RoLDAN {aside to Escobar). 

You did ? — What time was that ? 
PiNTOR. The Admiral forever ! 
RoLDAN (aside to Pintor). 

Ay, since when ? 
{Shouting aloud). 
Now he'll remember who have been his friends. 
Escobar. Ay, that he will. 

RoLDAN. We knew you would succeed. 

Pintor. The greatest day that Spain has ever 

seen. 
Escobar. Gained through the greatest men that 
Spain has had. 

{7b the Sailors.) 
Here, swear him your allegiance. Down, men, 
down. 

{All fall on their knees before Columbus.) 
Columbus. I thank you, men, both for myself and 
those 
Who sent us forth ; and join with you to swear 
Allegiance to our sovereigns — more than this, 

{Pointing to cross upon the banfter). 
To that far higher Power that they too serve 
Whose symbol is inscribed upon our banner. 
In that we conquer. When we disembark 
'Twill be to plant the cross just where we land. 
And now — you seem exultant — I confess 
To awe like that which Moses must have felt 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVF.RER. 117 

When God's own hand had touched him as it 

passed. 
I cannot stand — nay, let me kneel with you 
With praise, thanksgiving, and new-vowed devo- 
tion 

{They all kneel beneath the stafidanl, aful 
while the scenery, moinng behind, represents 
the approach to land, after a few mo- 
ments of silence, except for the music of the 
orchestra, they chant the following : ) 



THE OLD TIMES GO, THE NEW SUCCEED. 

The old times go, the new succeed, 

With changes none can stay. 
The foremost fall, and all who lead ; 

Yet life moves on for aye. 
But nevermore, whate'er be seen. 
Will aught be what it would have been. 
Had we not lived and done the deed 

That we have done to-day. 

The forms we prize, the thoughts we heed« 

The laws our race obey ; 
And all that loom in mount and mead 

And main will pass away. 
But nevermore, whate'er be seen, 
Will aught be what it would have been. 
Had we not lived and done the deed 

That we have done to-day. 



Il8 COLUMBUS THE DISCOVKKEI'^- 

The years will leave all times of need, 

The soul will have her say, 
The truth be throned, and love be freed, 

Anu heaven alone have sway. 
But nevermore, whate'er be seen, 
Will aught be what it would have been, 
Had we not lived and done the deed 
That we have done to-day. 

CURTAIN. 

End of Act III. 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 119 



ACT FOURTH. 

Scene First. — Reception room in a house at Palos. 
Entrances — Right Side and Left side. 
Enter — Left Side — Beatrix. 
Enter — Left Side — Columbus and Diego. 
Beatrix. Returned .'' Thank God ! 
Columbus. Yes, God alone could do it. 

{to Diego, as voices are heard from without^ 
For Pity's sake, Diego, send them off ; 
And say that I to-night will tell them all. 
Exit— Right 6VVA'— Diego. 
{to Beatrix.) 
And how's our son, Fernando? 
Beatrix. Grown and strong. 

He's out just now — will not be back till noon. 
I thought you coming when I heard the noise. 
Columbus. Ah, yes, as I remember, when I left, 

I roused a noise toe. 
Beatrix. You have roused one now 

That all the world will hear. 
Columbus. You never praise 

A wind, because it makes the sea-waves roar : 
It may be empty, and it may do harm. 
I've learned to judge men's noises at their worth. 



I20 COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 

Beatrix. To think I ever joined with them against 

you ! 
Columbus. Why, what were woman's nature, void 
of fine 

Atteniperment, adjusting it to form 

Society's barometer ? You know 

Society is like the atmosphere : 

It's always round us, and it's all alike — 

All warm in sunshine and all chill in storm. 

You met me in my sunshine, saw me first 

Surrounded only by my friends. 
Beatrix. If you 

Had heard the talk! 
Columbus. I heard too much of it. 

Beatrix. You found the land though ! 
Columbus. Yes, and such a land ! 

Beatrix. As fair as this .' 
Columbus. A land of endless May, 

And set in seas transparent as their skies ; 

Where every kind of spice, grain, fruit and fiower 

Teems in green valleys that need not be tilled, 

All crowned on high by mounts, whose gold and 
gems 

Lie on the surface. 
Beatrix. And belong to you ! — ■ 

What joy to feel that now it all is over ! 
Columbus. All never will be over in this world. 

The great care passed trails little cares behind 

That aggregate no less of worry. 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVEKEK. \2\ 

Beatrix. True ; 

But when the land was found 

Columbus. One ship was wrecked; 

And twice returning, too, we all seemed lost. 

If so, the whole would have been lost that now 

We've found. 
Beatrix. And then .? 

Columbus. I vowed a pilgrimage, 

Wrote out our story. Like the wine it was, 

I sealed it in a cask, and let it float. 
Beatrix, fjut reached the land ! 
Columbus. Yes, first at the Azores 

As wet as fish, too. That was why, perhaps, 

The Portuguese there spread their nets for us, 

And not their tables. 
Beatrix. Nets ? 

Columbus. To trap us, yes. 

Beatrix. But why 1 
Columbus. To get our charts, resail our course, 

And claim the credit of it. 
Beatrix. They could not 

Have been successful. 
Columbus. Not if we had lived. 

Beatrix. But yet ■ 

CoLUMBirs. No but ! Our ship was driven next 

To Portugal itself — by accident, 

Of course : a storm came on— and there the 
court 

Were soft as cats are, when tiiey play with mice. 



122 COLUMBUS rilE DISCOVERER. 

The fur, though, did not wholly glove the claw, 

Nor cloak a plot to murder us. It failed. 

Instead, Francisco de Almtiida sails. 

With secret orders from the envious court. 

To cross the sea, and make our gain his own. 
Beatrix. But Spain will right you, give you titles ? 

— fame ? 

Columbus. Oh, 'tis not that ! 

Beatrix. But wealth will come with them. 

Columbus. If I had worked for these, I had not 
lived 

The life I have. 
Beatrix. If you've not worked for them in part, at 
least, 

You're not the man I thought. 
Columbus. How so? 

Beatrix. You mean that you could tamely waive 

Your rights — your children's too — to fame and 
wealth ? 
Columbus. I see — -I had not thought. 
Beatrix. Oh, yes ; your mind 

Is so ideal, so filled with its own thoughts. 

They crowd out thoughts for others. 
Columbus. Think you so ? 

I must correct the fault. 
Beatrix. You'll now have time. 

How sweet to settle down upon your honors ! 
Columbus. What, what? — You think that I'm pre- 
pared for that ? 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 



125 



Beatrix. Why, you're not young. 
Columbus. I'm fifty-eight. 

Beatrix. Not strong. 

Columbus. To-day there came a letter from the 
sovereigns. 

It begs my presence to prepare with them 

A second expedition. 
Beatrix. What ! another ? — 

You'll go ? 
Columbus. Why not ? 

Beatrix. You've earned the right to rest. 

Columbus. From whence ? — I do not feel it given 
me here. 

{^Placing his hand on his heart.) 
Beatrix. You're not content yet ? — What an ap- 
petite 

Has man's ambition ! All that gluts to-day 

But bringing greater hunger for the morrow ; 

A fire consuming all it feeds upon, 

Still flaming upward and beyond it all. 
Columbus. That's true of more than you apply it 
to, — 

Of those desires that are but of the soul. 

I sailed to find the Indies. Tiiey're not found ; 

To plant the cross in all those lands ; and yet 

Great lands wait undiscovered. 
Beatrix. Other ships 

Are sure to sail and reach them. 
Columbus. Ay, they may. 



124 COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 

But all that I can know is that the call 
Has come to me. 
Beatrix. Well, well, if you sa}' must, 

Perhaps it must be. Still — if you are needed — 
You know you are — there's one thing : you can 

make 
Your own terms with the sovereigns. 
Enter — Right — D i ego . 
Columbus. What .' 

Beatrix. Your terms — 

Demand your rights, and mine — your son's and 
mine. 
Enter — Left — a Maid who speaks aside to Beatrix. 
Diego (aside). There's nothing like a she-hand, 
skill'd in needles. 
To frock and fringe a man's unmanliness 
In rags of failure. When unselfish zest 
Demands investment in the mail of force, 
Farewell good-fellowship that cheers the ranks ; 
The private favorite's prince of public envy. 
(77> Beatrix 70/10 is looking toward him}) 
Oh, he'll be wealthy as a king ere long. 
That ought to satisfy you. 
(77^ Columbus, referring to the erowd outside the 
house.) Yes, I sent 

Them off. 
Beatrix (to the two men, as she t:inis from ta/king to 
the Maid). 

I'm wanted, please excuse me. 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 



125 



Beatrix bows to Columbus and DiegvO, and 
they bow to her. As Beatrix turns mvay, 
Diego begins to talk aside to Columbus, 
shaking his head as if disapproving of 
zvhat she has just said. Beatrix pauses 
near Right Side Entrance — to say aside — 

Now, 
I'll write at once to Dona Bobadilla, 
And have her tell the Queen our terms — Ours ? — 

yes — 
Why, I've been told a thousand times or more 
That what I wish, he wishes. They are ours. 
Exeunt — Right — Beatrix and Maid, ivho has waited 

for her just bifore the door. 
Diego (to Columbus as if continuing a conversation'). 
We'll waive that then. — Now tell me of the people. 
Columbus. A noble race, who live there in a state 
Almost of Paradise, their wants so few 
And nature so profuse — I tell you truth — 
They neither toil nor spin. 
Diego. Nor spin ? Why how 

About their clothing ? 
Columbus. They don't need it. 

Diego. \\'hat t 

Columbus. Oh, you get used to that ! 
Diego. You do ? — then what's 

Their character ? 
Columbus. That's not so much a thing 

Of clothes as civilization thinks, perhaps. 



126 COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 
Diego. But then 



Columbus. The Turks keep faces veiled ; turn all 
The body into private parts — what's gained .? 
If ill-desire be fruit of thought that's germed 
In curiosity, to clear away 
Some underbrush, and let in light might help 
To blight the marsh-weed, and reveal, besides, 
Part of the beauty that brought bliss to Eden. 

Diego. You mean 

Columbus. There's nothing like a length of robe, 
Material in substance and in sense, 
To stole an anti -spirit-ministry. 
It bags what heaven made that the world may 

deem 
The bag well baited for a game of he'l. 

Diego. You talk in riddles. 

Columbus. Read a page or two 

From human nature, they'll be solved. Out 

there, 
Except with chiefs — it is the same, you know. 
With our high classes — people live in pairs. 
As birds do ; and, myself, I saw no hint 
Of lust or competition. They all seem 
To love their neighbors as themselves, and own 
All things in common. Why, to us they gave 
Whatever we could ask ; and often too 
Without the dimmest prospect of return. 

Diego. They welcomed you ? 

Columbus. They thought us fresh from heaven. 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOyEKEK. 127 

You know they're copper-colored. We looked 

white. 
Oh, what a race to be made Christians of ! 
Diego. What for ? 

Columbus. Why, only give such men religion • 

Diego. With lives of love, and welcoming guests 
from heaven — 
Where would you find much more in Christian 
Spain ? 

Columbus. Well, but 

Diego. Precisely what I mean — a butt. 

Columbus. You're always butting some thing, 

brother. 
Diego. Yes, 

A family trait with both of us, I think. 
Were I a man of action like yourself, 
I might not doubt but do. 
Columbus. Not undo, eh >.~ 

You mean you doubt my statements } 
Diego. Hardly that, 

But I was thinking 

Columbus. That's a dangerous thing. 

Diego. Yes, but for it I should have been a priest. 
At present, I'm confessor but to you. 
And my advice is, never to repeat 
What you've just said. 
Columbus. Why not ? 

Diego. 'Tis sure to make 

The world suspect you. 



128 COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 

Columbus. How? — and what ? 

Diego. Why, say, 

Your faith, 

Columbus. Impossible ! God knows — they know— 
The purpose of my life. — 

Diego. Your life ! But faith — 

That's not a thing to-day of life, but talk ; 
And God — He has not much to do with it. 
A man of faith, is one whose faith in those 
To whom he's talking, makes him talk their 

thoughts. 
None here will think that what you say can be. 

Columbus. Not even you ? 

Diego. Why, yes, — but yes and no. 

The power that makes imagination burst 
Through limits of our world, as you have done, 
To find this new world, makes it pass beyond 

them. 
The glories of that sunset land may all 
Be in the land you saw, or in the sky. 

Columbus. I see your meaning, 
Enter — Beatrix — Right. 

Diego. ' If your mounts of gold too 

Do not come tumbling very speedily 
To fill the itching lap of Spain, why then, 
There's some one will be blamed. 

Columbus. Oh, but they will ! 

Beatrix. Now, gentlemen, if you will walk in here 
{Motioning tozuard the Righr), 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 129 

We'll have some luncheon ; and I've news for 

you, 
Both bright and black. 
Columbus. There's nothing bright can come, 

But brings behind it something in the shade. 
Beatrix. The court, so Dona Bobadilla writes, 

Will welcome you in state at Barcelona. 
Diego. They're bright in doing that ! Now what's 

the black ? 
Beatrix. That Pinzon's ship has reached Bayonne ; 
and there 
The man has claimed your honors as his own. 
Columbus. What perfidy ! — determined to turn 
back 
Before we found the land, and after that 
Deserting us. 
Diego. To herald his delight 

In what he made you do ! — I'm not surprised. 
The train of genius marshals everywhere 
Distrust before success, and envy after. 
Exeunt — at the Right — Beatrix, Columbus and 
Diego. 



Scene Second. — A grand temporary Pavilion., erected 
in frofit of the royal residence at Barcelona. In the 
extreffie background., beyond an open place., is the ex- 
terior of the house of Cardinal Mendoza. hi front 
Q 



I30 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 



of this house, are awnings or curtains, whicli, at the 
conclusion i^Scene Second, are to be lifted or drawn 
aside in order to prepare for Scene Third. To the 
Right are parts of the Palace, to the Left are pillars 
supporting the Pavilion. Within the Pavilion, at the 
P^eft, near the hack of stage hut in front of the open 
place, is an elevated platform on which are four throne 
chairs. Nearer the Left Front of the stage is a place 
for a choir. 

Lin trances : — Right Side Rear — into the open place be- 
yond the Palace — Right Side Front — in front of the 
Palace ; Left Side Rear — open place beyond the Pavi- 
lion — Left Side Middle — between the pillars at the 
Left — and Left Side Front — in front of the Pavilion. 
The curtain rising discloses the King and Queen 
and Prince Juan, seated upon the throne, attended 
by the dignitaries of their court and the principal 
nobility of CdiSXWQ, Valentia, Catalonia <7//^Aragon ; 
also Gonzalez, Arana, Fonseca. Breviesca and 
others. The royal choir are at the extreme Left Front, 
and spectators of the more common sort at the Right 
arid in the Rear. All seem enthusiastic. 

Music by orchestra and choir, with the following words : 

HAIL TO THE HERO, HOME FROM STRIFE. 

Hail to the hero, home from strife, 
Pride of our hearts and hope of our Ufe, 
Hail to his glancing crest and plume, 
, Flashed like lightning into the gloom. 



COLUMBUS rilE DISCOVERER. 131 

Hail to the grit that, lost to view. 

Out of the darkness brought him through. 

Sprout of the slough-pit, bud of the thorn, 

After the night 

The light of the morn. 
Crown him with flowers and have them bright. 
Crown him, the man of the land's delight. 

Hail to the hero, home from strife. 
Pride of our hearts and hope of our life. 
Hail to the ring of the voice that taught 
Drumming and roaring the rhythm of thought- 
Hail to the tones that turned to a cheer 
Groan and shriek of a startled fear, 
Hushing to rills the flood that whirred. 

Chorusing night 

With songs of the bird. 
Shout him a welcome, and shout with might. 
Shout for the man of the land's delight. 

Enter — /^/g/if s/i/i' Rear — during the song, the follow- 
iiig procession : 

First come Soldiers ivlio march across the stage 
to Left Side Rear — then halt., turn toward 
the audience., and stand on guard at the 
Rear. Next comes an officer who turns 
toward the Pavilion, marching in front of 
it., and down the Right. — Following him are 
Indians brought from America. They are 
painted accorditig to their savage fashion, 
and decorated with their national orna- 



132 COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 

ments 0/ gold. As they and tJwse foHow- 
ing them approach fhcpavilio/i, each in turn 
salutes the Kinc; and Queen who reynain 
sitting. After the Indians, come men bear- 
ing various kinds of parrots together with 
stuffed birds and animals of unknown 
species and rare plants supposed to be of 
precious qualities. A display is also made 
of Indian coronets, bracelets, and other 
decorations of gold. After this, surrounded 
by a brilliant throng of Spanish cavaliers, 
comes Columbus. He is on horseback, 
but dismounts at the entrance of the pavil- 
ion and enters it. As he does so, the King 
and Queen both rise to welcome him. 
Columbus kneels, the King instaiitly takes 
his hand and motions to hint to seat him- 
self in the vacant chair beside them on the 
slightly elevated platform. He is the only 
one besides the King, Queen and Prince 
who is seated. 

{See Irving's Columbus : Book V. 
Chapter VI.) 

E?iter — Right Side Front — Diego and Beatrix, and 
stand watching the cereinonies. 

King {Just as Columbus seats himself beside him). 
Well done, thou good and faithful servant. 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 133 

Queen. Yes, 

The land was where you said. 

Columbus. "Fwas within less 

Than eighty leagues of M'here 1 reckoned it. 

Queen. A rich land too ? 

Columbus {motioning to the attendants who l>ring for- 
ward an i exhibit, as he nie?itions them, the differ- 
ent objects ivhich they are carrying^. 

You see what we have brought : — ■ 
These birds and animals unknown to .Spain, 
All promising vast wealth in plumes and furs ; 
These trees and plants that grow like reeds in 

swamps, 
And covered thick as leaves with ready food ; 
These aromatic herbs, in which all forms 
Of sickness find a sure and natural cure ; 
This gold that lies upon the soil like dust, 
Or else like pebbles tumbling from the cliffs, 
And easily moulded into ornaments ; 
These pearls and gems that line the river-beds ; 
.\dd these brave people, sons of God like us. 
With generous natures and compliant wills. 
Who met us kneeling, as we knelt on shore, 
With reverent souls prepared by heaven itself 
To welcome us as heavenly messengers ; 
And who to be made whole in holiness 
Need but the cleansing water of the church. 
Are these not eloquent beyond the power 
Of mortal lips } 



134 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 



Queen. They are. 

King. They are. 

All. \"es, yes. 

Columbus. But what that land contains is in 
supply 
As far beyond the treasure here, as is 
A whole vast continent beyond the store 
That can be packed in one small vessel. Yes, 
That realm of boundless wealth in rock and soil 
And boundless progress for the state and soul, 
Past all that human fancy can conceive, 
Lies there, embed in crystal seas and skies, 
A wondrous gift, fresh from the hand of God, 
As if untarnished by the touch of man, 
Awaiting your most Christian Majesties. 

King. Give God the praise. 

Queen. Thank Ciod. 

Pegple. Amen, amen. 

King. Columbus, all the people speaks their 
thanks. 
We but fulfill their wishes, crowning you 
With every proof of royal approbation. 
We now decree that, through all time henceforth, 
You shall be known as Admiral, Viceroy, 
And, if once more you'll cross the sea for us, 
Commander-General of all armaments, 
And Governor of all realms awaiting there, 
The bearer of tlie royal seal, with power 
To name your own successor and to will 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 



135 



Your own itiheritance ; and evermore 
These arms here are decreed your family. 

Enter — Left Side Second — an attendant hearing 
a banner in ivhich the royal arms, the 
castle and lion, are quartered with a group 
of islands surrounded by waves and under 
them the motto : 

" To Castile and Leon 
Columbus gave a new worlds 
{See Lrving's Columbus : Book V. Chapter VII.) 
Diego {at the extreine Right Front — to Beatrix). 

You think lie needed all those titles? 
Beatrix. Why ? 

Diego. I think they sound like you. 
Beatrix. Well, what of that? 

Diego. When I've been hunting, I have found that 
birds 
Of brightest plumage are the soonest shot. 
This is a world where many men go shooting. 
King {continuing to Columbus), 

And more than this : of all the ships in Spain 

We authorize your choice of which you will, 

With power to force each captain, pilot, crew. 

Or owner of a vessel, arms or stores. 

To do your bidding ; and besides we pledge 

Two-thirds of all the royal revenues 

Derived from our church tithes, and all that comes 

From confiscating all the property 

Of all the Jews, whom now, to yield us this, 

We banish from our realm. 



136 COLUMBCS THE DISCOVKRKR. 

People (%uitJi fcn-or and cxnltation'). 

God bless the king ! 

FoNSECA. God bless your Christian Majesties ! 

Others. God bless ! 

Columbus. You do me lionor, overmuch, I fear. 
And I too would give praise where all is due ; 
And that with deeds, not words. In view, this day, 
Of all the wealth that, with the power you give. 
Is certain now to come to me, I vow 
To raise and arm, inside of twice four years. 
Four thousand horse and twice as many foot. 
And just as many more in five years more. 
To drive to death the heathen Saracen 
And wrest from him the Holy Sepulchre. 

People. Oh, God ! we thank thee ! 

Others. Glory to the Lord ! 

Kino. Now let us, all together, seek the church. 
And praise Him, as is meet for these vast boons 
Vouchsafed to Christian Spain, there to convert 

{Motio?iing toward the Indians.) 
By holy baptism these heathen souls. 

Arana (to FoNSECA, exiiltiiigly). 

The day begins when all the earth and all 
Its wealth shall be converted unto us. 

Exeunt — Left Side Front — King, Queen, Prince, 
Columbus, Courtiers^ Indians, etc. 

Exeunt — Rig/it Side Front — Diego, Beatrix a /id 
others. 

( While the rest are h-aving the ehoir chant as folhm's ■) 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 137 

Oh soul, what earthly crown 

Is bright as his renown 
Whose tireless race 
Outruns the world's too halting pace, 
To reach beyond the things men heed 
A truth that all behind him need ! 

Oh soul, what man can be 

As near to Christ as he 
Who looks to life 
Not first for fame and last for strife ; 
But shuns no loss nor pain whereby 
To lift the truth and lower the lie ! 

Exeunt — Left Side Front — Choir. 
Atvnings infroiit of the house ^yAlENDOZA rise reveal- 
ing Scene Third 



Scene Third .• Interior of a Im/iqiieting hall in the 
house ^Mendoza. A table crosses the stage at the 
Rear. Behind it in the Center, on a seat slightly 
raised above the rest, is Columbus. At the right 
end of the table is Mendoza ,• at the left end, 
FoNSECA and Breviesca. Others arranged as 
s?iits convenience. 

Breviesca {to Fonseca). 

What native here has ever yet received 

Such royal honors ? — Why, the sovereigns both 

Stood up to greet him, hesitated, too. 

To let him kneel, and sat him in their presence. 

Fonseca. Here too he's on a throne. 



13S COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 

Breviesca. I never saw 

A Spaniard treated thus. 
FONSECA. He takes it all 

As if his due. 
Breviesca. Hold on. I'll put him down — 

In thought, at least. 
{To Columbus, who sits playing with an egg on the 
tabic.) 
Say, Admiral, do you think 
If you had not made this discovery 
That there's no man in Spain who could have 
done it ? 
Columbus. Why, that's a new idea. 
Mendoza. So it is. 

Columbus. I never asked myself about that yet— 
Oh, by the way, can any of you here 
Make this thing stand on end } 

(Gonzalez, Breviesca and Fonseca begin to 
experiment, as do others, with eggs lying 
on the table jiear the?n.) 
Fonseca. An egg ? 

Columbus. An egg. 

Mendoza. Can it be done ? 
Columbus. Why, yes, you try it. 

Mendoza (trying). No ; 

I give it up. 
Fonseca. And I. 

Columbus {to Breviesca). 

You give it up ? 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 



Breviesca Why — yes — I don't see- 



^39 



Columbus {setting the egg down on its small end with 
enough force to break the shell and make it 
stand). 

Now you see it — there ! 
Mendoza. Oho ! 
Breviesca. That's nothing ! 

Columbus. Yes, like other things, 

"Tis easy enough, when once you've seen it done. 
(Laughter.) 

Curtain. 



I40 COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 



ACT FIFTH. 

Scene First: — A camp on tJic Island of Hispaniola, 
Backing, a clearing, amid woods with thick forests 
in the distance. At Right and Left, trees ; at the 
Left near the Front, the hut of Columbus. En- 
trances Right Side Rear, Second and Front — be- 
tween trees ; Left Side Rear — behind the hut of 
Columbus ; Left Side Second— from inside of it, 
Left Side Front — bet^veen trees. 
Enter — Right Side Rear — Escobar and Gamez. 

Escobar. Ojeda, when his boats were on the coast, 
Said that at home the Admiral's cause was lost. 
Our notes have reached there. They've found 

out, at last. 
How Spaniards, ay, and Spanish nobles too, 
Are lorded over by this Genoese. 

Gamez. And now you say he's superseded t 

Escobar. Yes, 

By Bobadilla. 

Gamez. Who is he ? 

Escobar. Enough, 

If he's a Spaniard. 

Gamez. Strange, though, all the same ! 

Escobar. 'Tis said Breviesca and his bishop there, 
Fonseca, they rule everything to-day. 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 141 

'Twas they, you know, who got the crown to give, 
Ojeda all the Admiral's charts and half 
His rights too ; and would grant indulgences 
Without a stint if they could have their way 
To any here who struck him down. 

Gamez. Why so? 

Escobar. You've never heard about his impudence. 
When brought before the bishops, years ago ? 

Gamez. At Salamanca, yes; but he was right. 

Escobar. Or how he knocked down Breviesca, 
when 
Fonseca's messenger ? — Besides, who wants 
To blacken Spain with shade from Genoa .'' 
Well, Bobadilla's landed now ; and when 
His troopers flash in sight here, why, these eyes 
That have been aching so to see him come 
Will scratch some blinks to cure their vision's 
itching. 

Enter — Right Side — an old Indian, and advances 
tozvard Escobar, who addresses him. 
Humph ! Who are you, old cove ? — \\'hat ? — 

Clear the air. 
Stand off a white man's shadow. 

Indian. Me would see 

The Admiral, 

Escobar. Use your eyes then. Are you blind ? 

Indian. Me thought you know 

Enter — Left Side Rear — Columbus, and stands be- 
hind the three. 



142 COLUMBUS THE DISCO I't^RER. 

Escobar. Well, you've no right to think. 
And if we know, 'tis not our business 
To do your errands for you. 
(Indian, sc.yuig C'c>\xy\.v,V:'?,, passes toiuard Left Side 

Rear.) 
Gamez {laiighing/y to Escobar). 

Settled him. 

Columbus {to Indian). 

What's this ? 
Indian {to Columbus). 

Me wants to see you. 
Columbus {motioning toiuard his eahvi). 

Yes, but wait 

In there a moment, please. 
Exit— Left Side— into the hut of Columbus, the 
Indian. Columbus goes on to Escobar. 

It would be wise 

To keep the red-men friends ; and friendship's light 

Reflects but what is kindled in ourselves. 

Extinguish it within, and soon without 

We find our world in darkness.— Now, to work. 

The trenches must be dug, and no delay. 

There's danger of attack. 
Gamez. I'm not a man 

For work like that. 
Columbus. Like what .? 

Escobar. ^^'^e work that lets 

These common laborers wipe their dirty paws 

Upon one's coat. 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVKRKR. 



1 43 



Columbus. Then take it off. 

Gamez. Ay, ay ; 

And grovel at their level. 
Columbus. Does your rank 

Depend upon your coat ? — pray heaven that you 
Be born again, a new man and a true one. 
Gamez. You did not promise this work, when we 

sailed. 
Columbus. The Spaniards had not shown their 
lust and greed, 
Defiled the native women, killed the men. 
And, sent in squadrons to preserve the peace, 
All grasping for the whole of all they saw, 
Beset their comrades like a set of bulls 
Becrimsoned with each other's gore. Mere 

brutes ! 
No wonder they have disenchanted thus 
The people who at first believed them gods. 
Now get you gone — no waiting ! 

(Columbus turns toward his hut.) 
Escobar {iisidi', shaking his Jist at Qo'lvmbvs^s back). 

Yes, until 
We get you gone, which'U not be very long. 
Exeunt — Right Side — Gamez and Escobar. 
Columbus {going to his cabin and motioning the 
Indian to come out.) 
Well now, my friend, what is it ? 
Indian. White man kill 

Our men and steal our women. 



144 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 



Columbus. Yes — and I ? 

Indian. Kill white man. 

Columbus. What ? 

Enter — Left Side Rear — Bartholomew, and stands 

by Columbus. 

Indian. We Injun call you men 

Great-Spirit-men. Poor Injun when he die. 

When bad go here, when good go there, 

{Pointing first down and then ///.) 

Columbus. What, you — 

You Indians think this .'' 
Bartholomew. I shall write that home. 

'Tis more than some there seem to think. 
Columbus. It is. 

{I'o Indian.) 
And what of that, my friend .'' 
Indian. White-spirit-chief 

Send bad men here and good men there. 
(^Pointing first down and then up). 
Columbus. I see — 

Put down the bad, put up the good. Yes, yes ; 
You're right. I'll try to learn the lesson, friend. 
Indian (^pointing in a halffirightened way toward the 
Right). 
Bad man come there. 

(Bartholomew steps toward the Right). 
Columbus. Humph, humph, please leave us then ; 
And wait in here again. 

{Motioning toward his hut.) 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 



t45 



Exit — Left Side — into the hut, Indian. Columbus 
turns totuard Bartholomew. 

Whom have we coming .^ 
Bartholomew. A crowd of captives — women, as i 
think. 
The men with them are Roldan's. 
Columbus. 'Twill be hard 

To deal with them. They're all old criminals. 
Suppose you bring a guard here. 
Bartholomew. Yes, I will. 

Exit — Left Side Front — Bartholomew. 
Columbus {looking toward the Right.) 

There's one of them seems coming on alone. 
That's fortunate. — Aha, and Pintor, too ! 

Enter — Right Side — Pintor. Columbus speaks ta 
him. 

You back ? What have you brought ? 
Pintor. Some household gods. 

Columbus. Whose are they ? 
Pintor. Ours. 

Columbus. Oh, yours ? — how came they yours .'' 

Pintor. By right of conquest. 
Columbus. What ? 

Pintor. We killed their men. 

Columbus. And left them widows ? 
Pintor. Mo ; we made them brides. 

That's better than to leave them wives; not so ? 
Columbus. Law-breakers ! 

ID 



146 COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 

PiNTOR. Pugh ! with all that you have seized, 

Made slaves of, sent to Spain and sold 

Columbus. But they were captives from our foes. 
Enter — Left Side Rear — Bartholomew, 
Gutierrez and a guard wJw cross the 
stage at the back, and march forward 
between Pintor and the Right Side. 
PiNTOR. Well I 

Take any man who flushes red all over, 
As they do when I'm coming, as a foe. 
Columbus. The slaves we sent to Spain were taken 
there 
To be made Christians of. 
PiNTOR. And so with us — 

We're Christians, aren't we ? — Well, we'll have 

tliem washed 
And not made slaves, but take them to our 

homes, 
And let them lead a free and easy life. 
Columbus. And don't you see the danger .? Why, 
their tribe 
Will massacre us all ; if not, your vices 
Will bring you hell here, even while you live. 
Pintor. You know my story — was condemned to 
death — 
For nothing, though — and then the court decreed. 
Instead of this, that I should come out here : 
And if I make it hell, it .seems to me, 
That's where thev want me. 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 147 

Columbus {to Gutierrez). 

Take this man, 
Search him for arms, and march Jiim to the works. 

(To PiNTOR.) 

Hereafter keep a hold upon your tongue. 
PiNTOR. Ay, ay, sir ; but you'll not be hard on me. 
This land needs peopling. 
Exit — Right Side — Gutierrez and Soldiers 

with PiNTOR. 

Bartholomew. It will need it more, 

If Spain sends more of those vile wretches here. 

We'll all be murdered then. 
Columbus. We may, as 'tis. 

Bartholomew. Had I my way, a brute forever 
kicking 

Against the law should go in bit and bridle ; 

Ay, ay, to see a surgeon too. A touch 

Of horse-play — that's a cutting that would cure 
him 

And all his kind. The best should let their land 

Be peopled only by the best. 
Columbus. That might 

Be wise ; but where, pray, would you find the 
best 1 

'Tis hard to tell which curse a country most ; — 

Its gentlemen who feel above all work ; 

Or workers so far down they feel beneath 

All obligation to be gentlemen. 

As for the first, heaven grant they'll soon find out 



148 COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 

That this new world is not a place for them. 

As for the second, if we plan no way 

To keep them on the other side the sea, 

Farewell to all the good we hope for here. 
Enter — Right Side — Gutierrez. 

What now ? 
Gutierrez {/landing Columbus a note). 

We found this when we searched him. 
Columbus. Ay ? 

But it's not mine. 
Gutierrez. Perhaps it might be well 

For you to read it. 
Columbus (^reading it). 

So ?— I will.— What's this .? 
(77; Bartholomew. ) 

Bartholomew, a new conspiracy ! 
Bartholomew. But that man couldn't write. 
Columbus. Oh no; but then, 

You see he carries it from one who can. 
{Handing the note to Bartholomew.) 

This time, it seems the high and low will meet, 

And we, between them, will be crushed. 
Bartholomew {threateningly^. Perhaps. 

Columbus. It speaks about another fleet in port. 

I thought the treachery that had given my charts 

And right to govern islands west of here 

To Pinzon and Ojeda was enough. 

This speaks of one who claims a jurisdiction 

In our own island. 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVEKEK. 



[49 



Bartholomew. Bobadilla, yes. 

What will you do ? 
Columbus. Divide andv conquer. 

i^To Gutierrez.) Here ! 
Gutierrez. Ay, ay. 

Columbus. To chains with all those named in this. 
{Ilaniiing Gutierrez t/ic note.) 
They're mostly in their homes now. Be alert. 
Exit — Right Side — Guti errez. 
{To Bartholomew). 
Bartholomew, the rest of those condemned 
For sharing in that last conspiracy, 
Whom our too willing clemency has spared, 
Must be brought out to-day and hung. 

Bartholomew. But then 

Columbus. I see no other way. When mercy fails 
The cause is lost that does not call on justice. 

{A'^oisc's outside.) 
What noise is that — a txuiiult ? 
Bartholomew {zvho with Columbus looks toward 

Left Side). No ; they're cheers. 
Columbus. You make them out ? 
Bartholomew. Why, all the town is there ! 

And look — our prisoners too ! 
Columbus. What — those condemned 

To death ? 
Bartholomew. Ay, ay ; and have the leadership ; 
And with them — can it be ? — -'tis true ! there come 
The St. Domingo traitors. 



15° 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 



Columbus. Is that so ? 

(^Looking totvard Right Side.) 

Here, here ! 
Enter — Right Side — Gutierrez luith the Soldiers. 

Ay, steady now. Stand there. On guard. 
Bartholomew (StiH /ooking toward the Left). 

They halt, consulthig. — What ? Can that be he ? — 

Velasquez, our sub-treasurer ? Not so? 

Juan de Travierra, too ! 
Columbus. How strange ! 

Why, they were friends — and yet 

Bartholomew. They've left the rest — 

Are coming here. 
Columbus. Alone .'' 

Bartholomew. I think so. 

Columbus. Ves. 

I recognize them now. You're right. 'Tis they. 

I can't conceive, though, what it means. Can you } 
Bartholomew. \^'ho could ?— The others have 

begun to follow. 
Columbus. Aha ! They think that these will seem 
our friends ; 

And make an opening through which all can 
enter. 

What keener point could treachery find to edge 

Its wedge of enmity, than tried old friendship.'' 
(To the Guard.) 

Make ready. — Wait. 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 151 

Enter — Left Side Rear — Velasquez and 
anot/ier offieer. They bow and Columbus 
addresses them. 

Well, what's your business here ? 

Velasquez. We have beea sent 

Columbus. True men are never sent 

By their inferior. They will face him clown ; 
And not turn tail like driven beasts of burden. 
Velasquez. You do not know our message. 
Columbus. One may judge 

A message from its messengers. I see 
A crowd of common criminals. Were they 
Set free by you, yourselves are criminals. 

Velasquez. Your pardon ; but 

Columbus. You should have asked for that 

Before you freed your pals there. No one here 
Has any right to pardon men but me. 

Velasquez. But you mistake 

Columbus. I am the Viceroy. 

Traitors to him are traitors to the king. 
Velasquez. You may not be this now. 
Columbus. What mean you ? 

Velasquez {handing him an official paper of ivhich 
he holds many). Here, 
'Tis from the court. 
Columbus (taking and reading it). 

An outrage ! Yet but gives 
This Bobadilla — who ? and what is he ? — 
Authority to make investigations. 



152 COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 

Insulting ! — Yet there's here no grant 

For freeing captives that have been condemned. 
Velasquez {handing Columbus another roll). 

But here's another paper. 
Columbus {t-eceiving and reading if). 

That I yield 

All prisoners, ships and royal property — 

Why yes, if the investigation Avarrants — 

Of course 'twill not. 
Velasquez. Ah. but he says it does. 

Columbus. It does ? Why, I have never seen this 
man. 

Velasquez. Yet he's investigated. 

Columbus. What ? 

Velasquez. Your papers. 

Columbus. My papers ?— Which and where ? 
Velasquez. Those in your house. 

Columbus. He's entered that .' 
Velasquez. He lives there. 

Columbus. In my house ? — 

And reads my private papers ? 
Velasquez. They were found, 

While carrying out his other orders. 
Columbus. More 1 

Velasquez ijianding other papers to Columbus). 

Yes, these. 
Columbus {t-eeeiving and reading them). 

That I should pay all wages due 

With all arrears for royal services — 

What then .' 



COLUMBCS TJIF. J^JSCOVF.RER. , ^^ 

Velasquez. He takes them from your property. 

CoLUMHus. Without a word to me .' — Why this 
uieans ruin ! 
And who decides the chdms .?— a man without 
The means or incHnation, as it seems, 
To know the truth .?— whose first official act 
Is making friends by setting traitors free > 
And violating both the hiws of Spain 
And common courtesy i" — It is too much. 
Away, and tell him I defy him. Say, 
With all the rabble that are back of him. 
Enough are here yet that are loyal still 
To Spain and me, to crush one traitor more. 

VELA.SQUEZ. I fear the loyal must be on his side. 
{Handing Columbus another paper?) 
Read this:— a royal patent that invests 
This Bobadilla with all power and right 
Of governing these islands. 
Columbus (look/ng at the paper). 

Royal seals } 
It cann(;t be — but yet — 

{^Handing the paper to Bartholemew.) 
Can it be true .? 
I knew that we had enemies ; but not 
That they could be so powerful. 
Bartholemew. We'll resist. 

Columbus. It might be useless ; and it must be 
wise 
To keep the right, when with us, with us still. 



154 COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 

No no ; we'll yield. My brother, there are times 
When wrongs are great that they may be per- 
ceived, 
And emphasize the need of their redress. 

{Turning to Gutierrez and the Guard.) 
My men, this royal patent takes from me 
The government ; bestows what powers were 

mine 
On Bobadilla. All the loyalty 
You've shown to me, for which my gratitude 
Will always thank you, now belongs to him. 
Gutierrez. No, never. 
Guard. Never. 

Enter — Left Side — Sanchez, Soldiers, Escobar, 
Gamez and a rahhlc. 
Enter — Right Side — Pintor. 
Columbus. 'Tis the sovereign's will. 

Help me by sharing with me what I bear. 

{to Valasquez.) 
Inform the governor we await his wishes. 
Vei^asquez. There is another order. 
Columbus. Eh ? 

Velasquez. It's with 

This ofificer. 

{Gesturing toward Sanchez.) 
Sanchez {advancing toward Columbus). 

My orders — not desire. 
Columbus. Am I to die for serving Spain so 
well t 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. j^^ 

Sanchez (/^ both Columbus a/../ Bartholemew) 

Not that— Your swords. 
Columbus {as he and Bartholemew give up their 
s7U()rds, as does also Gutierrez). 

But worse than that .'—What next .? 
Sanchez {motionius fo a Soldier who brings for- 
ward some handcuffs.) 
I act but for the court. 
Columbus. Are those for me.? 

What crime have I committed } 
^■^^^^^^- I know none. 

Columbus. I said I would submit. You doubt my 
word } 
Or courage.?— or i^ersistency .?^or what.? 
Sanchez, You're to be sent to Spain. 
Columbus. i,-, chains ?-Who dares 

To place them on me .? 

{Looking at Sanchez and his Guard.) 
Sanchez {hesitating and /ooking around). 

There's a large reward 
For him that does it. Now 'tis offered.— Speak. 

{to Columbus.) 
You see we're all your friends. 

^^^^o^- Not all ; not all ! 

{taking the handcuffs) 
Here, let me have them, boys. I'm used to 

them. 
A fair man gives what he receives, not so .? 
{Puts them on Columbus.) 



156 COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 

Here, cvirse you ! Now fall overboard, and these 
Will sink you, as we meant to, years ago. 
{Turning to Bartholemew and fastening another 
pair on /lim.) 
Now you loo. 
Rabble. Ho, ho, ho ! 

Columbus (to BARTHOLEiNiEw). 

Bartholemew, 
A single bracelet is enough, men think, 
To show a common gratitude. ■ We've two. 
Thev think their debt is doubled. How 'twill 

'thrill 
Ambition in the future sons of Spain 
To learn what badges of true servitude 
Await the souls that serve her best. We, we, 
Who've made of Spain the Empress of the West, 
Have weightier honors waiting us, — to be 
The slaves that, crushed to earth, will pedestal 
The towering contrast of her sovereignty. 
£xcnnt — Left Side Front — Sanchez, his Soldiers, 
Columbus and Bartholemew. 
Exeunt — to Left and Right — Omnes. 



Scene Second — A eourt belonging to a house in 
Seville. Baeking, and at the Right, parts of the 
l>ui/ding on either side of the eourt. The same 
at the Left, but near the L.eft Front entrance a 



CC'LUMBUS 7'///-: DISCOVER ER. 157 

chair or hao and a sofa 7i.>itli one end raised on 
whii/i to rest the head. 

Entrances — at Right Side — ami Left Side. 
(Enter — RigJit Side — DiK(;o and Beatrix.) 

Diego. You must not talk about his poverty. 

Bea TRix. Why not ? 

DiEC.o. You're kiUing Iiim. 

Beatrix. I'm nursing him. 

DiEdo. Yes, all that grows toward death. 

Beatrix. If he had been 

Content to leave the land to others, when 

' Twas found once 

Diego. Can a mother leave her child, 

\Mien born — no more ? 'Twas less the land he 
sought, 

Than those grand hopes his soul had based on it 

As a foundation. 
Beatrix. These he might have watched 

As well at home here. 
Diego. Why, I thought 'twas you 

That urged his seeking wealth. The wealth was 
there. 

And how about those titles .'' All of them 

Were labels not of use unless he sailed. 
Beatrix. Why did he use them arbitrarily .' 
Diego. I>ess use than their possession gave offense. 

Besides, we men are trained to government 

As much as manners. 'Tis the curse of force 



158 COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 

That always its own method keeps alive 

Its first excuse for being. Tyranny 

May make of chaos order ; but, when throned, 

Knows not a subject that is not a slave. 

Would one of those o'er whom my brother ruled, 

Have bent the knee to an authority 

Not ermined in the old familiar guise 

Of arbitrariness ? 
Beatrix. Had he conceived 

How all would end ! 
Diego. 'Twas not conceivable. 

Beatrix. But you conceived it. 
Diego. I ? 

Beatrix. Why yes. You spake 

Of envy sure to follow. 

Diego. Did I so ? 

Beatrix. And it came true.— 'Tis often so with 
you — 

Not that I like you better for it, though. 
Diego. My words come true, eh ? — One might think 
they did ; 

They are believed so seldom. 'Tis one test 

Of prophets that they prophesy in vain. 

Beatrix. You might have urged your brother 

Diego. Oh, not I ! 

I never urge myself. 
Beatrix. But when you know — 

Diego. Imagine only — not the same as knowing ! 

Imagination dreams, its dreams anon 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVER EK. 



159 



May leap Time's processes, or keen-eyed, spy 
The end from the beginning. Yet such dreams 
Come but to him so much in sympathy 
With nature's courses, so inspired to aim 
For nature's goals, so fired by nature's force, 
That sheer inertia of the soul outspeeds 
The pace of grosser matter. 

Beatrix. And to you 

At times 

Diego. The times come seldom. 'Tis not oft 

That fancy's flowers foretoken fruit ; not oft 
That fruit is laden on the limbs that bloom 
Most brilliant with the flowers. — I've seen it 

though, — • 
Imagination imaging true life, 
Life true to all its images ; and then 
I found a seer, earth's rarest product. 

Beatrix. That 

Is what some say that you are. 

Diego. To be true 

To life, when all the men that have life doubt me, 
I ought to join with them, and doubt myself. 

Beatrix. In that you're little like your brother. 

Diego. Ah, 

With him quick action follows on the thought. 
With me come only talk, and then more thought. 
He mounts to find success. I prophesy — 
Perhaps ; but where success is, at my best, 
Am only of the crowds that cheer it. 



I Go COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 

{Looking to tJu- Left.) 

Here 
He comes, poor man — his faithful sons too. How 
I love them for their faithfulness I Alas, 
He's failing fast. If there was once a time 
We feared he might be wrecked, he's reached a 

time 
When wreckage has begun — with waves, too, 

worse 
Than waves without, as much as stabs than 

scratches. 
Fierce envy's made such havoc of his life, 
'Twould not be strange if nature, in revolt, 
Should doff the guise this world has torn to rags 
And give him something richer. 

Enter — luft Side — Columbus, attendcJ by iiis 
two sons, Young Diego, a man, and 
Fernando, a youth. Columbus with 
help is seated on the sofa. Diego continues 
to Columbus. 

Well, what news ? 
Columbus. A new world has been found of bound- 
less wealth ; 
And he who found it, finds himself a beggar. 
A king and queen were throned in that new world. 
Who throned them there, they seized and bound 
in chains. 
Diego. Oh, yes ; but then the chains were taken 
off. 



COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. i6l 

Columbus. A nation has been made the first on 
earth. 
Who made it this, for this deed has been made 
The last in all that nation — not one shred 
Of all his property, or power, or rank, 
Stripped by injustice from him, when 'twas found 
To be injustice, has been given back. 
His name is left dishonored, and his sons 
Inherit nakedness. 

Beatrix. Yes, that is it. 

You see if he 

Diego {gesturing I'lolcntly to silence Beatrix). 

Not now. The time will come • 



Beatrix {suddenly turning her back upon Diego and 
speaking to herself ). 
Oh, when he prophesies, I always fear 
He's going to prophesy some ill of me. 
Exit — Left Side — Beatrix. 
Diego {to Columbus). 

There's nothing that can dim your well-earned 
fame. 
Columbus. A man who gave his life for what to all 
Appeared impossible, attained it, then 
Found charts and notes that told his stor}', stolen. 
And that which was his own discovery. 
Called not by his own name but by another's. 
Diego. Yes, it is very strange. 
Columbus. So very strange 

It seems that when I think it can be true, 
1 1 



1 62 COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 

I pause to listen to the morning bells 
To wake me from a dream. 

Diego. 'Tis but a dream. 

The force that keeps eternal worth from light 
Is but of time — a thing short-lived. 

Columbus. I know — 

If 'twere not for my children. 

Young Diego. They are proud 

Of one who, all his life, as now in age, 
Has stood alone, yet been victorious. 

Columbus. Alone, and yet not lonely. \\'hen one's 
true 
To his own mission, he is in the ranks 
With all that move toward all good ends that wait. 

{Lookmg at his so7is.) 
And but for you — think you I've lived my life 
To beg men for a badge to brag about ? — 
Enough, if I have been an influence. 

Diego. Ay, that is all that God is. 

Columbus. God .' 

Diego. 'Tis true. 

What voice, or face, or form, or robe, or crown, 
Or throne attests His Presence ? Who can trust 
In things like these — what spirit serve but them, 
And not be all through life — ay, out of it 
And even after death — a slave to sense. 
No brother of the Christ, no son of God ? 

(Columbus is seized by a sudden paroxysm and falls 
back upon the sofa.) 



COLUMBUS I HE DISCOVERER. 163 

Fkrnando. Why, see ! He's fainting ! 
Young Diego. Help him ! 

Diego. Ah ? What's that ? 

Why, Christopiier ! 
{To tlic sons as all three bend over Columbus.) 
Go, call a doctor — priest ! 
Exeunt— Left Side Front — the two sons.) 
Columbus {reviving and pointing toward the center of 
stage). 
The new world — you must watch it — it will grow. 
Hark — there are words I hear — and look — Felipa ! 
{Q.oiMWBM'A sinks in death supported by Die(;o, 
who does not seem to notice what follows, 
being "ivholly absorbed in attending to 
Columbus.) 



Scene Third: — 77ie curtain forming the back of 
Scene Second rises disclosing at the Lipt the same 
convent chapel and zvall that occupy that place in 
Act First, Scene First. The co/ivent wall, however, 
extends across the stage to the Right, and the whole 
Scene is backed by a distant view of a fertile, cul- 
tivated, and populous country, including mountains 
and valleys, rivers spanned by bridges, and low lands 
filled with towns and cities, — all represeyiting the 
present condition of the western continent. Near 
the entrance of the chapel, stands Felipa, gazing 



1 64 COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERER. 

tcnuard this laud, whik\ by a choir unseen within 
the chapel, the same hymn is chanted as ihaz with 
which the drama opens, as follows : 

O, Life divine, thou art the spring 

Of all that germs and grows ; 
The Light behind the suns that bring 

The harvests to their close. 

O, Life divine, thou art the source, 

Of truth within the soul ; 
Thou art the guide through all the course 

That leads it to its goal. 

O, Life divine, what soul succeeds 

In aught on earth but he 
Who moves as all desires and deeds 

Are lured and led by thee. 

Curtain. 



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Price, cloth, $1.25. 



for sale by all booksellers. Sent jjost-paid upon receipt of the price. 

Arena Publishing Company, 

Copley Square, Boston, Mass. 



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